Recreational Quota Entity Fund

What this funds

For FY 2027, NMFS estimates obligating $4,000 in the Recreational Quota Entity (RQE) Fund. To provide for the collection of fees for the RQE to purchase halibut Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program quota shares from NMFS requires an electronic charter halibut stamp for sport fishermen on charter vessels for each fishing trip in a given calendar day, specifically for sport fishermen who intend to catch and retain halibut in International Pacific Halibut Commission Regulatory Areas 2C (Southeast Alaska) and 3A (Southcentral Alaska). The RQE (a non-profit entity that represents the charter halibut fisheries in Areas 2C and 3A) will use the funds from the stamps to purchase halibut IFQ Program quota shares from persons in the commercial fishery. The pounds of halibut from the RQE's purchases will be added to the pounds of halibut that is currently allocated to the The intent of this program is to help provide more charter halibut fishing opportunities over time. Additional RQE poundage may help relax charter halibut management measures, such as bag limits, size limits, and day of the week closures. The Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act, P. L. 117-328, amended the Magnuson Stevens Act authorizing a fee collection system from charter vessel operators who guide recreational anglers fishing Pacific halibut in the IPHC regulatory areas 2C and 3A. The RQE will purchase, hold, and manage commercial halibut quota which can be applied to supplement the annual allocations of the guided recreational fleets in Southeast and Southcentral Alaska. Under the section 106 of the Act, any fees collected shall be available for financing administrative costs of the RQE Program; the purchase of halibut Quota Share (QS) in areas 2C and 3A by the RQE; halibut conservation and research; and promotion of the halibut resource by the RQE. Fees collected from purchase of charter halibut stamps will be placed in the RQE Fund.

Extracted from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, p. 415. Verbatim; nothing here is paraphrased.

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