subsistence halibut - Forums Archive

yak2you2

2009-01-18 08:16:31

Anyone who is a resident in an area that has been determined to be a subsistence community and meets other criteria, can obtain a subsistence halibut permit, or SHARC card here;

https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/webapps/halibutsubsistence/Initial

Their free and simple to fill out.It can be used to set a subsistence longline with a limited amount of hooks, but more importantly for those of us who troll, it can also be used to retain incidentally caught halibut while commercially trolling. Don't worry, the catches don't count against the harvestable quotas of either commercial halibut longliners or the charter industry that have been drastically reduced in some regions here lately, so it won't have any adverse affects.

There are special rules that apply to potential permit holders that have commercial halibut shares though, so you'll want to read all the regulations first.

Next step; Go to the thread-(In the galley) and start looking for a good recipe. Coming soon~ Beer battered halibut balls!

Ocean Gold

2009-01-18 22:24:03

Don't worry, the catches don't count against the harvestable quotas of either commercial halibut longliners or the charter industry that have been drastically reduced in some regions here lately, so it won't have any adverse affects.

How do you figure that is has no adverse effect on the commercial quota? The subsistance and personal use (including un-guided/bare boat charters)is taken off the top every year before the commercial catch limit is set. (In the future the subsistence and unguided will be taken off the top before a combined commercial and charter limit is set and then allocated between the two groups)

The Southeast (2c) 2007 subsistance catch was 51% of the total subsistance harvest or 524,897 lbs. and personal use was 1,200,000 lbs. I am sure 1.75 mil lbs. is accounted for in the removals. It was the fisrt report given at the IPHC meeting. What subsistance means to me, is a resident, lives a Alaska life style, and will eat the fish they catch or share it with thier family. It is not for sale and should not be shipped down south. Personal use means just that PERSONAL USE not to be shared with all your friends and neighbors and fellow fisherman on the dock. Halibut is a limited resource.

So as the subsistance catch increases the commercial catch will decrease, so use your fish wisely and don't abuse the system or we may loose the privilage to harvest halibut for our own use. F&G have asked us many times about subsistance.

yak2you2

2009-01-19 01:09:10

I agree 100 % subsistence is for feeding one's family with only, and should be used wisely. It appears to me that the subsistence take is all ready pre-estimated. I've had my card for 4 years and no one has ever asked me how many halibut I've caught or retained other than an annual voluntary catch report. There doesn't seem to be an official place that records actual subsistence halibut. Simply said the quota appears to be scheduled for a bump whether the fish are harvested or not.

sixlines

2009-01-19 16:05:30

I think you use your card about as much as I use mine.These cards in my opion have just made things easier for peaple to abuse the system and the resorce.Because and I hate to say it but your right,I dont believe that these subsistance cards are being moniterd properly.