In January 2014, Catch Accountability Through Compensated Halibut (CATCH) released a report that proposed a mechanism to integrate the charter halibut sector into the Catch Spare Program in place to manage commercial halibut fisheires in Areas 2C and 3A. The CATCH proposal would establish a Recreational Quota Entity authorized by the Council to purchase Quota Share on behalf of the Area 2C and Area 3A charter halibut sector. The Quota Share, and resulting IFQ, would be used to supplement the charter sector allocation for Area 2C and Area 3A halibut.

In October 2014, the Council authorized the Recreational Quota Entity Committee to contribute to the development of a Recreational Quota Entity program structure for analysis and review by the Council. The Council considered the RQE program for initial review at the December 2015 meeting in Anchorage, AK, and asked Council staff to conduct an analysis of the Program alternatives. ?In April 2016, the Council selected its preferred alternatives based on?the initial review analysis and public testimony, and passed the RQE forward for final Public Review.

Your voice is important in this discussion – at the April 2016 meeting, the charter sector was recognized?for the volume?of comment letters and testimony in support of the RQE program! ?We need to continue showing our?support so we can get this program underway.

Please contact Samantha Weinstein, Executive Director of SEAGO about ways to get involved and keep following this page and our Facebook for updates.