Charter Captain and Member of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, Andy Mezirow, led efforts to reform the halibut quota system in the Gulf of Alaska. In conversation with host, Mike Leonard, Mezirow details why the charter sector was willing to buy halibut from the commercial and explains how the Recreational Quota Entity, which facilitates the purchase and transfer of quota, works.
At the end of 2022, funding for the Alaskan halibut catch-share program was passed as part of the omnibus spending bill. Compensated reallocation in Alaska will allow the recreational sector to acquire more quota, enhancing opportunity and access. This is a novel approach and the rest of the country is watching to see how it plays out.
For more ways to get involved in sportfishing policy visit https://asafishing.org/
