The International Pacific Halibut Commission, set the following catch limits for the 2010 season.

Area 2A — 810,000 pounds (760,000 pounds)

Area 2B — 7.5 million pounds (6.59 million pounds)

Area 2C — 4.4 million pounds (3.71 million pounds)

Area 3A — 19.99 million pounds (19.99 million pounds)

Area 3B — 9.9 million pounds (9.9 million pounds)

Area 4A — 2.33 million pounds (2.33 million pounds)

Area 4B — 2.16 million pounds (2.16 million pounds)

Area 4CDE — 3.58 million pounds (3.58 million pounds)

TOTAL — 50.67 million pounds (49.02 million pounds)

Put up or shut up

Along the Alaska coast, the federal government is preparing to put hundreds of mom-and-pop fishing companies out of business. Click on the title for more.

NOAA sets application period for sport charter halibut fishing permits

Sport charter halibut fishing operators in Southeast Alaska and the central Gulf of Alaska must apply for a permit to operate in the new limited license program between February 4 and April 5, 2010.

NMFS issues regulations creating a limited access system for charter vessels

Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: NMFS issues regulations creating a limited access system for charter vessels in the guided sport fishery for Pacific halibut in waters of International Pacific Halibut Commission Regulatory Areas 2C (Southeast Alaska) and 3A (Central Gulf of Alaska).