Design Features of a Catch Share Plan for Commercial Halibut and Sablefish in Alaska (1995)

The Alaska Halibut and Sablefish Fixed Gear Individual Fishing Quota Program culminated 14 years of development of a limited entry system by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and National Marine Fisheries Service in 1995. It was among the first catch share programs to include a variety of design elements to meet key social goals, while also addressing economic goals to decrease overcapitalization and increase value of the fishery and biological goals to eliminate overharvesting. Some of the key design elements include low consolidation limits, restrictions on transfers by vessel size and number and size of holdings, eligibility requirements, and electronic reporting

The fishery occurs in federal waters off Alaska in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska. Fishermen use fixed gear vessels ranging in length from less than 35 feet to over 60 feet, including longline catcher vessels, catcher-processor vessels, and fishermen targeting sablefish using pots. Fishermen landed just under 40 million pounds of halibut, or 99 percent of the 2010 catch limit, worth $193 million dockside (($4.86/lb). Approximately 2,772 persons held quota shares of Alaska halibut, down from 4,829 persons at initial allocation Halibut vessels consolidated from 2,057 to 1,090. Sablefish harvesters caught 88 percent of the 25 million pound quota in 2010, worth $82 million dockside ($3.76/lb). Approximately 834 persons held quota shares of Alaska sablefish, down from 1,055 persons at initial allocation. Sablefish vessels consolidated from 616 to 363. Cost recovery for the IFQ Program in 2009 was 1.9 percent of dockside value.

Dozens of amendments have improved adherence to the original goals of the program, while also responding to changing social and economic conditions that have allowed easing of many of the original program restrictions.