Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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 total annual commercial catch limit across Areas 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E. This action would also exclude IFQ halibut harvest derived from quota held by a Community Quota Entity (CQE) in Area 4B from accruing under the proposed five percent vessel harvest limit across Areas 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E. This action would provide additional flexibility for halibut IFQ Program fishery participants in Areas 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E, where fishery conditions continue to be challenging. This action would promote the goals and objectives of the IFQ Program, the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act), and other applicable laws.
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 260817-0010] RIN 0648-BO24 AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments. 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 total annual commercial catch limit across Areas 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E. This action would also exclude IFQ halibut harvest derived from quota held by a Community Quota Entity (CQE) in Area 4B from accruing under the proposed five percent vessel harvest limit across Areas 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E. This action would provide additional flexibility for halibut IFQ Program fishery participants in Areas 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E, where fishery conditions continue to be challenging. This action would promote the goals and objectives of the IFQ Program, the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act), and other applicable laws. DATES: Submit comments on or before October 5, 2026. ADDRESSES: A plain language summary of this proposed rule is available at https://www.regulations.gov/​docket/​NOAA-NMFS-2026-1025 . You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2026-1025, by any of the…
Citation: 91 FR 56606
