Amendment 66 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area

NOAA Fisheries issues a final rule to implement Amendment 66 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska, and an amendment to the Pacific halibut commercial fishery regulations for waters in and off of Alaska. Amendment 66 to the Fishery Management Plan and the regulatory amendment modify the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program by revising the eligibility criteria to receive halibut and sablefish IFQ and quota share by transfer to allow eligible communities in the Gulf of Alaska to establish non-profit entities to purchase and hold quota share for lease to, and use by, community residents as defined by specific elements of the proposed action. This action improves the effectiveness of the IFQ Program by providing additional opportunities for residents of fishery dependent communities. This action is necessary to promote the objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 with respect to the IFQ fisheries.