Making the rules: charter halibut regulatory process

Catch Data is compiled by ADF&G using charter logbooks and creel surveys up to end of July. Based on past charter history and current year's data, ADF&G prepares harvest estimates for upcoming year. 

The Charter Halibut Committee, with representatives from the charter industry across the state of Alaska,  meets in October to provide ADF&G with a suite of harvest measures they want analyzed that would keep projected guided angler harvest within a range of potential allocations.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council votes on the range of options for the upcoming halibut season in December. The International Pacific Halibut Commission meets annually at the end of January to make a final decision on the stock assessment and apportionment of the allowable catch to each country and management area. 

The Alaska Charter Association provides consistent representation and input from the industry on every phase of the annual regulatory process.