Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Modified Hired Skipper Requirements for the Individual Fishing Quota Program

Samenvatting

NMFS proposes a regulatory amendment to the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program for fixed gear Pacific halibut and sablefish fisheries in and off of Alaska. This action would require an initial recipient of certain categories of quota share (QS) who wishes to hire a skipper to fish the IFQ derived from that QS to own a minimum of 20- percent interest in the harvesting vessel. This 20-percent minimum ownership requirement would not apply to a QS holder who hired a skipper prior to April 17, 1997, continues to own that vessel at no less percentage of ownership interest than was held on April 17, 1997, and has not acquired additional QS through transfer after September 23, 1997. This action is necessary to promote the Council's intent to provide for an owner- operator catcher vessel fleet in the halibut and sablefish fixed gear fisheries off Alaska and is intended to further the objectives of the IFQ Program.