Regulatory Amendment to Modify the Halibut Bag Limit In the Halibut Charter Fisheries In IPHC Regulatory Area 2C Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

This Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis examines a change to the management of Pacific halibut guided sport fisheries in International Pacific Halibut Commission Regulatory Area 2C in the Gulf of Alaska. The preferred alternative is a season-long two halibut daily bag limit. The maximum size limit would be 32 inches for one of the two halibut.

This analysis assesses the potential biological, social, and economic impacts of restricting charter harvest in Area 2C to a level comparable to that which would be achieved by the IPHC’s January 2007 recommended regulation. Based on ADF&G logbook information, the IPHC’s action was expected to reduce charter halibut harvest to a level between 397,000 and 432,000 pounds in Area 2C.