NMFS Proposes Rule to Revise IFQ Program Regulations for Groundfish in Alaska

Summary

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued a proposed rule to update regulations for Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) and Community Development Quota (CDQ) programs for pot gear configurations, pot gear tending and retrieval requirements, pot limits, and associated recordkeeping and reporting requirements in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI FMP) and the Gulf of Alaska (GOA FMP). The proposed rule aims to increase operational efficiency and flexibility for IFQ holders and CDQ groups, while also promoting entry-level participants by authorizing jig gear for harvesting sablefish IFQ and CDQ.