Our Mission

Current Issues (3/25/2012):

1. The judge has ruled on lawsuit by Charter Operators of Alaska (COA) to block the charter limited entry program in Areas 2C and 3A. Judge Burgess denied their request to kill the charter limited entry program on Feb 24, 2012.  Read the ruling here:  http://www.scribd.com/doc/83181258/Ruling-on-charter-halibut-limited-entry
   

2. The NPFMC will review and take action on the catch sharing plan (CSP)  on Sunday April 1.  We need a good turnout to testify at the council.  Background documents are here:  http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/PDFdocuments/halibut/CSP_312.pdf  Please email us if you are attending.
   

3. A public workshop to examine several issues related to Pacific halibut bycatch and life history is planned for April 24-25, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. The two-day workshop is jointly sponsored by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC). The first day will consist of a series of presentations by staffs of IPHC, the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and independent scientists and fishing industry representatives on topics related to bycatch estimation, management, and its effects on halibut harvest strategy, as well as halibut growth and migration. The second day will consist of discussions of the previous day’s topics by a science panel, including audience participation. Workshop materials will be posted on this page as they become available.  More info at:  http://www.iphc.int/meetings-and-events/workshops/268-bycatch-workshop-2012.html  REGISTER IN ADVANCE for the online webinar.
   

4. IPHC.  The next Annual Meeting of the Commission will be held January 22-25, 2013 in Victoria, B.C.

   
   

2011 Charter Operators vs Locke (Halibut Charter Limited Entry)

• Bench Order Denying Preliminary Injunction on Limited Entry (CHP) (4/26/11)
• Plaintiffs reply in support of their motion for PI (4/18/11)
• Federal response to motion for PI (4/12/11)
  
• Plaintiffs complaint for review of action and PI (4/4/11)
  
• Plaintiffs memo in law for support of PI (4/4/11)
  
• Plaintiffs motion for PI (4/4/11)

2009 Charter Lawsuit

The Halibut Coalition Speaks Out

• Halibut Coalition Comments on Catch Sharing Plan Proposed Rule (9/21/11)
  
  
• Compass: Keep halibut catch sharing facts in mind (9/19/11) By Brent Western
  
  
• Point/Counter Point. Without plan, commercial fleet unfairly burdened (9/3/11)
  
  
• Halibut Coalition Comments on SBA Involvement in 37" Charter Halibut Rule (6/8/2011)
  
  
• Halibut Coalition Requests International Pacific Halibut Commission hold 2C Charter to GHL (12/30/10)
  
  
• Halibut Coalition Speaks Out on Halibut Charter Moratorium Rule (6/4/09)
  
  
• Fact or Fiction? Halibut Fishing in Southeast Alaska (5/26/09)
  
  
• The One Halibut Per Day Charter Rule: The Facts (5/20/09)

In the News:

• 2010 NMFS Report to the Halibut and Sablefish Fleets (8/19/11)

• Coaliton Asks Council to Urge NMFS to Take Action to Keep 2C Charter Fleet Within GHL in 2010 (12/7/09)

• Commercial fishermen face 26% decrease in halibut limit (12/15/09)

• Halibut allocation battle to continue in Washington court (8/7/09)
  
  
• Halibut charters unlikely to win, D.C. judge says (6/26/09)
  
  
• Judge upholds one-fish limit for Southeast halibut charters (6/4/09)
  
  More "In the News" articles