Overall coastwide there is a 10.5% reduction with 2C (southeast) commercial fishermen scheduled for another 27% reduction and area 3A (Southcentral) commercial fishermen scheduled for another 7% reduction.
http://www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/newsrel/2008/nr20081125.htm
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Attached is the court's order dismissing the lawsuit against the one fish rule because the Secretary's recision of the rule in September mooted the case. The case was dismissed without prejudice.
The government sought dismissal with prejudice, which would have meant that they could use the dismissal to block a future suit against the a new one fish rule. However, we argued successfully that the case should be dismissed without prejudice, which is what the court did.
NMFS is still hoping to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking on a new one halibut daily bag limit for Area 2C by the end of November. We will notify everyone as soon as the proposed rule appears in the Federal Register. There will likely be a 30 day comment period, so everyone should be prepared to submit comments over the holidays.
CHTF will be preparing legal arguments to be submitted with our comments in order to help with a possible legal challenge of the new rule. As with the last case, funds will be needed to prepare arguments and file the lawsuit. Donations can be sent to CHTF via our website at
http://www.charterhalibut.org/id2.html
VANCOUVER -- When the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans suddenly announced last week that the sport fishing season for halibut was closing early, it sent a shudder along the West Coast.
With salmon stocks at historic lows, recreational anglers this year have increasingly turned their attention to halibut.
Guides and lodges especially have been counting on the bottom fish to get them through a poor salmon season, with many advertising their access to good halibut grounds.
But with two months left to go in the season, the DFO has announced fishing will be closed from Oct. 31 to Dec. 31. Guides will have to cancel any trips they have booked and lodges that are now selling next year's season at outdoor shows will have to explain to customers why this season has been cut short. Get the whole story @
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081027.BCHUME27/TPStory/Environment
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