Our Mission

Current Issues (1/28/13):

1. On January 25, 2013 the IPHC set the 2013 quota.  Overall, it was a 7% reduction orm 2012.  Check out the details here

2. On October 5, the Council took final action on the Catch Sharing Plan (CSP).  By a vote of 10-1 (Sam Cotton opposed) they adopted Alternative 3 for Area 2C and Alternative 4 for Area 3A. 

An overview of the alternative allocation percentages is at:  http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/PDFdocuments/halibut/CSPalternativesAug12.pdf

The Council final action motion is at: http://fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/PDFdocuments/halibut/CSPMotion1012.pdf  

Compared to the CSP previously adopted by the Council in 2008:

• 2C lost 0.8% to 1.0% of the combined catch limit (CCL), depending on abundance levels, to charter.

• 3A lost 3.5% of the combined catch limit to charter at CCL below 20,000,000 pounds.
  
  Compared to the existing 2003 Guideline Harvest Level (GHL) scheme we gained a little at current abundance levels in both areas.

Next steps are for the Council to update their analysis and forward to NMFS Juneau.  NMFS Juneau will prepare the analysis for Secretarial review in conjunction with the proposed rulemaking.   Due to the Administrative Procedures Act, 2014 is the earliest implementation date for the CSP.  Once the CSP is implemented both commercial and charter will be tied to the same abundance index and both sectors will be accountable for their own wastage.

IPHC Calendar

November 28-29, 2012 Interim Meeting in Seattle (Portions will be webcast)
January 22-25, 2013 Annual Meeting in Victoria (Portions will be webcast)

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 to NPFMC on Halibut Catch Sharing Plan (9/25/12) New
  
  
• 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