Jusitification for change

JUSTIFICATION FOR CHANGE

ALASKA PACIFIC HALIBUT FISHERIES:

CHARTER PERMITS

OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0592

JUSTIFICATION: This change request is necessary to modify one transfer form by removing unneeded questions.

NMFS implemented a catch sharing plan (CSP) for the Pacific halibut guided sport charter and IFQ commercial fisheries in waters of IPHC Regulatory Areas 2C (Southeast Alaska) and 3A (Central Gulf of Alaska). Regulations that implement this collection-of-information are found at 50 CFR part 300.60-.66 and at 50 CFR 679.5.

To provide flexibility for individual commercial and guided sport fishery participants, the CSP authorized annual transfers of commercial halibut quota to qualified guided sport halibut business owners for harvest in the guided sport fishery.

The application for transfer of Guided Angler Fish (GAF) is revised by reformatting and revising instructions for greater clarity. In addition, a question is removed that asks whether the fees for the transferor and transferee were paid; this question is not necessary because the information is available through other data submission.

Application for Transfer between IFQ and GAF

The halibut CSP authorized a supplemental, individual use of commercial IFQ by qualified charter halibut permit holders and charter vessel anglers in Area 2C and Area 3A. CHP holders in these areas could receive commercial halibut IFQ by transfer as GAF. The transfer is effective for the current fishing season only, so transfers of IFQ to GAF would not be a permanent transfer of commercial halibut IFQ to the charter sector.

The application for transfer of GAF is available on the NMFS Alaska Region website at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/ram/default.htm. The application may be submitted by mail, fax, or by hand delivery. Electronic submittals other than facsimile will not be accepted.

The revisions to this application are not expected to change burden or costs.

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