Sport Halibut Management
Sport Halibut Fishing in Alaska
Sport fishing regulations for Pacific halibut in Alaska are developed on the international, federal and state levels by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC), NOAA Fisheries (NMFS), and the State of Alaska's Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G).
Halibut and salmon are the major sport fish fisheries in Alaska. NMFS' recreational fisheries regulatory authority is limited to Pacific halibut. ADF&G does not have authority to manage halibut, but manages most of Alaska's recreational fisheries and has adopted some regulations that affect sport fishing for halibut. ADF&G issued 197,000 resident and 255,777 non-resident sport fish licenses in 2009.
Unguided Sport Halibut
UNGUIDED SPORT HALIBUT FISHING - Areas 2C, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E
- Regulation Summary for 2011
- Regulations for waters in and off Alaska are stated in the IPHC's 2011 annual management measures (See sections 25 and 28 for season dates, gear and possession information, and bag limits for most areas)
- Fishery Management Boundaries and IPHC Regulatory Areas
Guided Sport Halibut
CHARTER HALIBUT LIMITED ACCESS PROGRAM - Areas 2C and 3A
The Charter Halibut Limited Access Program establishes new federal Charter Halibut Permits (CHPs) for operators in the charter halibut fishery in regulatory Areas 2C (Southeast Alaska) and 3A (Central Gulf of Alaska). Beginning February 1, 2011, all vessel operators in Areas 2C and 3A with charter anglers onboard catching and retaining Pacific halibut must have an original, valid CHP onboard during every charter vessel fishing trip. CHPs must be endorsed with the appropriate regulatory area and number of anglers.
- News Release: NOAA Fisheries asks fishery council to take another look at halibut plan, September 2011
- Frequently Asked Questions (Revised 6/29/11) (Small Entity Compliance Guide)
- Regulations
- 76 FR 44156, July 22, 2011. Proposed regulations to implement a catch sharing plan for the guided sport and commercial fisheries for Pacific halibut in waters of International Pacific Halibut Commission Regulatory Areas 2C (Southeast Alaska) and 3A (Central Gulf of Alaska). Comment period extended through September 21, 2011. (76 FR 55343, September 7, 2011)
- News Release: September 1, 2011
- Draft EA/RIR/IRFA of a Regulatory Amendment for a Catch Sharing Plan, June 2011
- 76 FR 44156, July 22, 2011. Proposed regulations to implement a catch sharing plan for the guided sport and commercial fisheries for Pacific halibut in waters of International Pacific Halibut Commission Regulatory Areas 2C (Southeast Alaska) and 3A (Central Gulf of Alaska). Comment period extended through September 21, 2011. (76 FR 55343, September 7, 2011)
- Permits, Applications and Reports
- ADF&G Logbook
- 2011 IPHC Recommendations
- Historical Information
- Bench Order in the charter halibut litigation, April 2011
Additional Information
- ADF&G Charter Halibut Harvest Data: 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
- ADF&G sport fishing regulations
- IPHC regulatory information
- NPFMC halibut charter information
- NMFS' analyses
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