NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION ISSUES PROPOSED RULE: PACIFIC HALIBUT FISHERIES; CATCH SHARING PLAN; MODIFY PACIFIC HALIBUT INDIVIDUAL FISHING QUOTA (IFQ) VESSEL USE CAPS IN IFQ REGULATORY AREAS 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, AND 4E

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 -- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued a proposed rule called: Pacific Halibut Fisheries; Catch Sharing Plan; Modify Pacific Halibut Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Vessel Use Caps in IFQ Regulatory Areas 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E.

The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on Sept. 3 by Samuel D. Rauch III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service.

Summary: NMFS proposes regulations to modify the Pacific halibut (halibut) Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program to revise vessel harvest limitations for IFQ halibut harvested in IFQ regulatory Areas (Areas) 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E by establishing a vessel harvest limit of five percent of the t...