Sablefish Permit Stacking

Primary Sablefish Fishery & Sablefish
Permit-Stacking Program

Limited entry permit holders with sablefish endorsements are eligible to participate in the primary sablefish fishery. See the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Groundfish Fishery Management Plan at Section 11.2.6 for background information on the sablefish endorsement program. Amendment 9 to the FMP introduced the sablefish endorsement program.

Each sablefish-endorsed limited entry permit is assigned to one of three tiers, which determine the amount of sablefish that may be harvested with each permit in a particular year’s primary sablefish fishery. For background information on the sablefish tier program, see Amendment 14 to the Groundfish Fishery Management Plan .

Federal regulations on participating in the primary sablefish fishery are in 50CFR660.372 and 660.382 (tier limits are provided here). Areas closed to fishing by limited entry fixed gear fishermen are listed in the regulations or on the Groundfish Closed Areas page. Federal regulations on permit requirements for owners or holders of limited entry permits with sablefish endorsements are in 50CFR660.334.

NOAA Fisheries requires various forms/applications to be completed to participate in the sablefish permit-stacking program. The Small Entity Compliance Guide for the Sablefish Permit-Stacking Program (PDF 290KB), describes additional forms/applications required for the various provisions implemented through the March 2, 2006, final rule. The small entity compliance guide also provides further detail on the provisions of Amendment 14, such as the owner-on-board requirement and ownership interest.

More Information on the Sablefish Permit-Stacking Program

Key Dates:
* Jan. 1, 2007 - Effective date for owner-on-board requirement
* Mar. 2, 2007 - Individuals who owned sablefish permits as of Nov. 1, 2000, but do not now own a sablefish permit must reacquire another sablefish permit by Mar. 2, 2007, to maintain an owner-on-board exemption

Useful Lists, including:
   * Sablefish permit count (own and hold) for all current sablefish permit owners and holders (click "Sable_Control_Count reports")
   * List of current permit owners' status re owner-on-board (exempt/not exempt) (click "Sable_Owner_on_board")
   * List of former permit owners eligible to reinstate owner-on-board exemption (click "Owner On Board EXEMPTION REPORTS")

Public Notices:
* March 31, 2006 - Small Entity Compliance Guide for the Sablefish Permit-Stacking Program (PDF 290KB)
*Oct. 20, 2005 - Announcing a Proposed Rule to Implement further Provisions of the Sablefish Permit Stacking Program (PDF 293KB)

Federal Register Notices:
   * Apr. 3, 2001 (66FR17681) - Advanced notice of proposed rulemaking, announcement of control date (PDF 36KB)
   * May 9, 2001 (66FR23660) - Availability of Amendment 14 (PDF 38KB)
   * June 8, 2001 (66FR30869) - Proposed rule for initial sablefish permit-stacking regulations (PDF 58KB)
   * Aug. 7, 2001 (66FR41152) - Final rule for initial sablefish permit-stacking program regulations (PDF 63KB)
   * Aug. 30, 2001 (66FR45786) - Correction to final rule for initial sablefish permit-stacking program (PDF 34KB)
   * Mar. 7, 2002 (67FR10490) - Final rule on 2002 groundfish management measures which also extended sablefish primary season (PDF 31KB)
   * Oct. 12, 2005 (70FR59296) - Proposed rule for additional sablefish permit-stacking program provisions (PDF 109KB)
   * Mar. 2, 2006 (71FR10614) - Final rule for additional sablefish permit-stacking program provisions (PDF 90KB)