Final Regulatory Impact Review For a Proposed Regulatory Amendment To Limit Possession of Guided and Unguided Halibut Simultaneously on the Same Fishing Vessel

This document analyzes a proposed regulatory action that would prohibit the mixing of guided and unguided halibut simultaneously on any vessel in IPHC Areas 2C and 3A in the GOA. The first alternative under consideration is the status quo. The second alternative would prohibit the possession of guided and unguided halibut simultaneously on any fishing vessel. Under the third alternative (preferred alternative), if a mix of halibut from guided and unguided sport fishing are retained onboard a charter fishing vessel, then the daily bag limits, possession limits, size restrictions, and carcass retention requirements would be the same for all anglers, whether they are guided, unguided, or crew members. Each of those limits would correspond to the federal or IPHC management measures and applicable federal regulations for guided anglers. Under the preferred alternative, unguided anglers and crew members on charter vessels would not be subject to the guided halibut charter management measures for recording harvests in a saltwater logbook, day-of-the-week closures, and annual limits. 2019 NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) AKR (Alaska Region) Submitted Public Domain 1862