Regulatory Impact Review for Proposed Charter Halibut Recreational Quota Entity Funding

This Regulatory Impact Review examines regulations that would apply exclusively to the guided (i.e., charter) recreational Pacific halibut fishing sector in International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) Regulatory Areas 2C (Southeast Alaska) and 3A (Southcentral Alaska). The regulations would establish a Federal fee collection program for charter halibut businesses. Revenues from the fees would fund the Recreational Quota Entity (RQE). The RQE is authorized to purchase commercial halibut quota shares from the Halibut Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program on behalf of charter halibut anglers in Areas 2C and 3A. Quota held by the RQE would be converted into pounds of halibut on an annual basis and added to the charter halibut allocation in the corresponding IPHC Area. The regulations would implement a charter halibut stamp requirement to serve as the fee collection mechanism for the RQE. Charter halibut businesses would be responsible for paying for and assigning halibut stamps for each charter halibut angler for each day they intend to retain halibut. The resulting fees from the stamp purchases would be used by the RQE to purchase commercial halibut quota shares and for other specific RQE expenses, as authorized under the Magnuson-Steven Fisheries Conservation Act.