Final Secretarial Review Regulatory Impact Review for a Proposed Regulatory Amendment to Modify the Medical and Beneficiary Transfer Provisions in the Pacific Halibut and Sablefish Individual Fishing Quota Program

This Regulatory Impact Review analyzes management measures that would modify the medical and beneficiary transfer provisions of the Pacific halibut and sablefish individual fishing quota (IFQ) program. The proposed changes are intended to simplify management of the medical and beneficiary provisions while meeting the objective of having an owner/operator fishery in the catcher vessel sector. The medical lease provision was implemented to allow persons with a legitimate temporary documented medical condition who intended to fish in the near future to temporarily lease their annual quota. The beneficiary lease provision was implemented to allow beneficiaries to lease their annual quota for up to three years after the death of the Quota Share holder while the estate is settled. The proposed action modifies several elements in each of the two provisions to more closely align with the Council’s original intent.