Halibut stamp required for charter boats in Alaska waters this year

Federal fisheries managers have introduced new rules requiring charter halibut stamps for anglers fishing from charter boats in Southeast and Southcentral Alaska this year. To retain their catch, charter anglers must purchase a stamp that costs $20 per day, with proceeds going to a nonprofit called the Recreational Quota Entity. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said charter boat operators handle the purchases. David Ardinger, owner and operator of Fish 'N Chips Charters in Kodiak, supported the stamp concept because it is intended to help buy commercial IFQs, potentially increasing what charter boats can harvest. However, he argued it does not address the broader issue of declining Pacific halibut abundance, citing that last year’s catch fell 16% from the year before and that the overall west-coast limit dropped to 29.3 million pounds from 41 million in 2022. He also referenced bycatch limits and limits on charter retention on specific days in Southcentral.