William Tweit, Interim Chair
David Witherell, Executive Director
SUBJECT: title
IFQ Transfer Provisions - Initial review
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STAFF CONTACT: Stephanie Warpinski (NMFS), Darrell Brannan and Sam Cunningham (NPFMC)
ACTION REQUIRED: recommended action
a) Review Initial Review draft of analysis
b) Consider whether to select a preliminary preferred alternative and release document for final review
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BACKGROUND:
The Council is considering amendments that would modify the medical and beneficiary transfer provisions in the Pacific Halibut and Sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program. Alternatives developed by the Council at its February 2018 meeting have been analyzed and are scheduled to be presented for initial review.
Medical Transfer
Temporary medical transfers were not included in the original halibut and sablefish program, because the Council's intent was to have an owner-onboard fishery in the catcher vessel sectors, as well as concerns that they would be difficult to regulate. However, after reports of injured or ill IFQ holders being transported on and off fishing vessels to meet owner-onboard requirements, the Council recommended, and NMFS approved, the temporary medical transfer provision late in the 2007 fishing year. In recommending the medical transfer provision, the Council attempted to balance its objective to limit long-term leasing of quota share (QS) to promote an owner-onboard fishery with its recognition that a medical transfer provision would provide a mechanism for QS holders to retain their QS during bona fide medical temporary hardships.
Because of concerns that a small group of catcher vessel QS holders are using the medical transfer provision to circumvent the owner-onboard requirements, the Council proposed modifications to the program. The first modification would more tightly limit the number of years a QS holder could use the temporary medical transfer by changing the language from "for the same medical condition" to ...
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