RUMOR HAS IT, Halibut charter limited entry is dead.
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council proposed a limited entry program for the halibut sport charter industry operating in southeast and southcentral Alaska to be implemented in 2010. The rumor is that the IPHC has recommended a delay until 2011. It looks like bag limit reduction is the only option for regulating the charter catch.
We will work on getting the whole scoop ASAP.
5 comments:
NMFS has analyzed public comment on the proposed rule. The Moratorium final rule package was sent from NMFS Alaska to DC a week or so ago. Expect the final rule to be published soon. Not sure how long it will take NMFS to process applications for those who qualify and issue the permits.
Thanks for the update. There was a post in the alaska forum blog about an IPHC recommendation. As usual facts are often few and far between in that forum.
Still more rumors circulating the web. such as "NMFS just said that the halibut charter moritorium is going to be delayed a year because they were concerned about the confusion about the appeal process within the charter sector."
I hope this moratorium does not die on the floor of the secretary's office. The one fish limit is now a preferred form of regulation for the powers that be. Limiting entrants is the only viable remedy for the one fish fetish.
LEP Program is in effect. No word yet on application process, other than it's expected to open Feb 2010. Permits won't need to be carried until Feb 2011.
News release today at NOAA website.
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