he North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), under the authority of the Halibut Act (with respect to Pacific halibut) and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., as amended in 2006 (Magnuson-Stevens Act) (with respect to sablefish), manages the fixed gear Pacific Halibut and Sablefish Individual Fishing Quota Program (IFQ Program). The IFQ Program provides a limited access system for Pacific halibut in Convention waters in and off Alaska and sablefish fisheries in waters of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska. Regulations implementing the IFQ Program are set forth at 50 CFR part 679.
NMFS will issue a proposed rule (0648-BG94) that would modify regulations governing the IFQ Program. This proposed rule would allow Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) groups to receive by transfer halibut individual fishing quota (IFQ) in IFQ regulatory areas 4B, 4C, and 4D in years of low halibut catch limits. This action is necessary to give CDQ community residents more fishing opportunities in years when the halibut CDQ available may not be large enough to present a viable fishery for IFQ participants. This proposed rule is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Halibut Act, the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, and other applicable laws.
US Code:
16 USC 1801 et seq.
Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
Program changes (temporary new collection to be merged with 0648-0272).
The associated rule would allow Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) groups to lease halibut individual fishing quota (IFQ) in IFQ regulatory areas 4B, 4C, and 4D in years of low halibut catch limits. This action would give CDQ community residents more fishing opportunities in years when the halibut catch limits available may not be large enough to present a viable fishery for participants.
$7,178
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Uncollected
Stephanie Warpinski 907 586-7234
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Temporary IFQ transfer
0764 Halibut and Sablefish IFQ Forms Temp SS_100418.docx
Annual report