Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Western Alaska Community Development Quota Program

Résumé

NMFS proposes amendments to the regulations governing the halibut fishery under the Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program. The proposed amendments would increase the Regulatory Area (Area) 4E trip limit from 6,000 lb. (2.72 metric tons (mt)) to 10,000 lb. (4.54 mt) and modify the Area 4 Catch Sharing Plan (CSP) to allow CDQ Program participants to harvest allocations of Area 4D halibut CDQ in Area 4E. This proposed action is intended to enhance harvesting opportunities for halibut CDQ fishermen and to further the goals and objectives of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) with respect to the CDQ program and the Pacific halibut fishery, consistent with the regulations and resource management objectives of the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC).