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
All --
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
CLICK ON THE HEADING OF THIS POST TO SEE THE DRAFT REPORT.
Saturday evening the NPFMC voted 10 to 1 to pass a catch sharing plan. Friday afternoon the State of Alaska offered the first motion on the halibut charter issue. This motion had no set allocation between the commercial and charter sectors. It did have a framework where at various level of abundance the charter fleet would fish under a one fish bag limit, two fish bag limit with one under 32″ and a two fish bag limit with no leasing of IFQ’s. This proposal allowed a range of charter harvest from 12% to 30% depending upon the level of abundance in 2C and 11.8% to 30% in 3A. The Council allowed the motion to sit overnight, while they took staff reports on 3A management measures to allow the public a chance to review, understand and offer to council members their opinions on a one to one basis.
The final motion ended up being a catch sharing plan that has a clear allocation between sectors. The charter fleet allocation is a fixed percentage of 15.1% in 2C except when the combined commercial and charter catch limit is below 5 million pounds when the allocation goes to 17.3%. In 3A the allocation is 14% except when the combined commercial and charter catch limit is below 10 million pounds when the allocation goes to 15.4%. The allocation acknowledges that management measures and projections of harvest in the charter fleet are imprecise therefore up to a 3.5% variance may occur and that overtime the variances should balance out. The allocation is what will be used in IPHC’s calculations for determining the commercial catch limits. The State of Alaska approach of predetermining set management measures that IPHC and NMFS will abide by at various levels of abundance as determined by the combined commercial and charter catch limit although these differ then the State’s original motion. Leasing was added as an amendment to the motion which passed with a split vote of 8 to 3 and became part of the main motion which passed the Council.
Just a heads up on a few proposals that have to do with charter vessels and personal use fisheries.
Proposal #307... Prohibit charter vessel use in the subsistence or personal use fisheries within 30 days of use in guided sport fishery.
Proposal #308... Restrict subsistence and personal use fisheries by lodge or charter operators.
Proposals #309 thru 313 are infringements to some degree on our civil rights as private citizens. Search your vessel without probable cause just because you have a green sticker on your boat or if your fishing clients stay in your guest house they can kick down your door and look in your freezer.
The assault continues on the rights of the guided sport fisherman so make your comments either written or in person in a timely fashion. ADF&G offices have proposal books if you need one.
The Alaska halibut charter fleet needs your help.
Beginning September 29, 2008 at the Anchorage Alaska, Sheraton Hotel.
On the agenda.
Charter Halibut Catch Sharing Plan: Final Action
Halibut 3A GHL: ADF&G Report and Final Action if necessary (T)
AGENDA<<<<< http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/threemeetingoutlook.pdf
NPFMC meeting... The final halibut allocation for the charter fleet to be set. The amount of fish will determine if we’re fishing under a one-per-day bag limit for the foreseeable future and how much money you might have to spend to buy your way back to a two-per-day bag limit. Be prepared to make phone calls, write letters, and email the decision makers. Attend the meeting.
The NPFMC needs to allocate sufficient fixed poundage of halibut to the charter industry to allow for a two-daily bag limit for the entire May to September season.
January 13-16, 2009. The IPHC will decide how halibut are apportioned throughout the range. Area 2C – Southeast Alaska – has suffered major reductions in harvest opportunity due to a new biological model and the apportionment of halibut based on that mode. The charter industry needs to participate in the IPHC process or there will be a one fish limit statewide.
Attend the IPCH annual meeting. We need your help to afford this fight.
Join or renew your membership with the Homer charter association and make sure your voice is heard in Anchorage and Vancouver, BC. The HCA September meeting date will be established soon so stay in touch.
