Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan (CSP) for Areas 2C and 3A

The Halibut Catch Sharing Plan (CSP) in International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) Area 2C (Southeast Alaska) and Area 3A (South central Alaska) defines an annual process for allocating halibut between the charter and commercial halibut fisheries in Areas 2C and 3A. It establishes sector allocations that vary in proportion with changing levels of annual halibut abundance and that balance the differing needs of the charter and commercial halibut fisheries over a wide range of halibut abundance in each area. The CSP describes a public process by which the North Pacific Management Council develops recommendations to the IPHC for charter angler harvest restrictions (annual management measures) that are intended to limit harvest to the annual charter halibut fishery catch limit in each area. The CSP also authorizes limited annual leases of commercial individual fishing quota (IFQ) for use in the charter fishery as guided angler fish (GAF).