Sablefish Permit Stacking Program

The sablefish permit stacking program is a type of individual fishing quota program for select limited entry fixed gear fishermen. Limited entry permit owners with sablefish endorsements are eligible to participate in the primary sablefish fishery between April 1 and October 31. Each sablefish-endorsed limited entry permit is assigned to one of three tiers. The tiers determine the amount of sablefish that may be harvested with each permit in a particular year's primary sablefish fishery. A vessel owner may register up to 3 sablefish-endorsed permits for use with their vessel to harvest the cumulative limits associated with each of those permits (i.e., stacking permits). In addition, the program includes provisions intended to limit control of the resource and to maintain the small, owner-operator character of the fleet.

Several forms must be completed to participate in the sablefish permit stacking program. The Small Entity Compliance Guide for the Sablefish Permit Stacking Program (290kb) describes the requirements and the requisite forms and applications.