Regulatory Amendment for a Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan for the Charter Sector and Commercial Setline Sector in International Pacific Halibut Commission Regulatory Area 2C and Area 3A Final Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/ Initial

Abstract: This analysis examines proposed changes to the management of Pacific halibut in the charter fisheries and commercial setline fisheries in International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) Regulatory Areas 2C and 3A in the Gulf of Alaska. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) identified a need to develop a catch sharing plan (CSP) for the charter and commercial sectors to address conservation and allocation concerns in both areas. These concerns resulted from: 1) increased harvests in the charter halibut fishery, and 2) decreased catch limits in the commercial setline fisheries. The Council considered five alternatives and adopted a Preferred Alternative from among proposed CSP elements. The Council adopted its Preferred Alternative using the proposed charter allocations under Alternative 3 for Area 2C and the proposed charter allocations under Alternative 4 for Area 3A. The Council also adopted revised elements for a Guided Angler Fish Program, in which Charter Halibut Permit holders would be allowed to lease commercial Individual Fishing Quota in order to provide charter anglers with harvesting opportunities, not to exceed limits in place for unguided anglers. Annual management measures would be implemented each year through a cooperative program among state and Federal agencies. The Council also would request that the IPHC: 1) annually set a combined charter and commercial setline catch limit, to which the allocation percentage for each area would be applied t