NOAA Fisheries

Program Information

Before fishing under the subsistence halibut regulations, fishermen must obtain a Subsistence Halibut Registration Certificate (SHARC). Special permits for community harvest, ceremonial, and educational purposes also are available to qualified Alaska communities and Alaska Native Tribes. Permit holders must comply with SHARC registration and reporting processes.

• Frequently Asked Questions
  (Small Entity Compliance Guide)
• Applications
• Regulations
• Maps - rural and non-rural areas
• Reports

Applications

Subsistence Halibut Registration Certificate (SHARC)

• Rural Individuals or Individual Alaska Native Applications
  • Online Renewals
  • New Applications or Renewals (paper): Rural, Tribal
  • Eligible Alaska Tribal Entities and Eligible Rural Communities

• Tribal Applications for Alaska Native Tribal Officials to Apply on Behalf of Tribal Members
  • New Applications or Renewals (paper) (No online application)
  • Eligible Alaska Tribal Entities and Eligible Rural Communities

Community, Ceremonial and Educational Permit Applications and Logs

• Community Harvest Permit
  • New Applications and Renewals (online)
  • New Applications or Renewals and Instructions (paper)
  • Eligible Alaska Tribal Entities and Eligible Rural Communities
  • Community Harvest Permit Log/Instructions

• Ceremonial Harvest Permit
  • New Applications and Renewals (online)
  • New Applications or Renewals and Instructions (paper)
  • Eligible Alaska Tribal Entities and Eligible Rural Communities
  • Ceremonial or Educational Permit Harvest Log/Instructions

• Educational Harvest Permit
  • Application and Instructions (paper only; no online application)
  • Eligible Alaska Tribal Entities and Eligible Rural Communities
  • Ceremonial or Educational Permit Harvest Log/Instructions

Replacement Application

• Replacement of Certificates and Permits: Application and Instructions

Reports

Subsistence Halibut Reports

• Alaska Department of Fish & Game: 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003 (external links)
• NOAA Fisheries: 2005

SHARCs and Permits Issued	2013 (updated daily)	2012	2011	2010	2009	2008	2007
List of all SHARCs issued, by holder:	.pdf  or .csv	.pdf  or .csv	.pdf  or .csv	.pdf  or .csv	.pdf  or .csv	.pdf  or .csv	.pdf  or .csv
List of Tribal SHARC holders, by eligible Tribe:	.pdf	.pdf	.pdf	.pdf	.pdf	.pdf	.pdf
List of Rural SHARC holders, by eligible Community:	.pdf	.pdf	.pdf	.pdf	.pdf	.pdf	.pdf
Summary counts of SHARCs issued:	.pdf	.pdf	.pdf	.pdf	.pdf	.pdf	.pdf
Special Permits issued: (includes Community Harvest, Ceremonial and Educational Permits)	.pdf	.pdf	.pdf	.pdf	.pdf	.pdf	.pdf

Regulations

Regulations to implement subsistence halibut fishing were published in the Federal Register on April 15, 2003 and became effective May 15, 2003. To participate in this fishery, you must hold a Subsistence Halibut Registration Certificate (SHARC).

• 77 FR 68734, November 16, 2012. Notice of a request for an extension of an information collection about fishery registration and gear used in the Pacific halibut subsistence fishery. Comment period through December 28, 2012.
• 77 FR 29966, May 21, 2012. Proposed renewal of information collection for registration to participate in the Subsistence Fishery for Pacific Halibut and the marking of certain types of gear used in the fishery. Comment period through July 20, 2012.
• 74 FR 57105, November 4, 2009. Final rule to revise the criteria for rural residents to participate in the subsistence fishery for Pacific halibut in waters in and off Alaska. Effective December 4, 2009.
• 50 CFR 300.60 - 300.66, Subpart E — Pacific Halibut Fisheries including subsistence halibut
  • Eligible communities: 300.65(g)(1)
  • Eligible Tribes: 300.65(g)(2)
• 50 CFR 300, Subpart E Maps. Rural and non-rural areas (Figures 2-7) - Effective 12/4/09
  • Figure 1: Sitka Sound Local Area Management Plan
  • Figure 2: Southern Southeast - Ketchikan
  • Figure 3: Northern Southeast - Juneau, Sitka, Yakutat
  • Figure 4: Prince William Sound
  • Figure 5: Anchorage - Matanuska-Susitna - Kenai
  • Figure 6: Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian Islands
  • Figure 7: West and Central Alaska
• GIS Maps of Rural Areas: View these interactive maps to see if your domicile is within the eligible rural areas
• 73 FR 72737, December 1, 2008. Final rule to amend the subsistence fishery rules for members of an Alaska Native tribe eligible to harvest Pacific halibut. The action correctly defines the location of Village of Kanatak tribal headquarters and International Pacific Halibut Commission halibut regulatory area in which the tribe’s members may subsistence fish. Effective December 31, 2008.
• 73 FR 54932, September 24, 2008. Final rule to amend the subsistence fishery rules for Pacific halibut to address subsistence halibut management concerns, particularly in densely populated areas in waters in and off Alaska. Effective October 24, 2008.
• 73 FR 45201, August 4, 2008. Proposed rule to amend the subsistence fishery rules to correct the location listed in the regulations for the Village of Kanatak tribe and the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) halibut regulatory area in which members may subsistence fish. Comment period through September 3, 2008.
• 73 FR 20008, April 14, 2008. Proposed regulations to address subsistence halibut management concerns in densely populated areas. Comment period through May 14, 2008.
• 72 FR 68762, December 6, 2007. Correction of a spelling error in final rule 68 FR 18145, April 15, 2003. This correction makes minor, non-substantive changes and does not change operating practices in the subsistence fishery or the rights and obligations of subsistence fishermen managed under the subsistence halibut regulations off Alaska. Effective May 15, 2003.
• 70 FR 41159, July 18, 2005. Correction to the final rule amending the subsistence fishery rules for Pacific halibut in waters off Alaska. Effective July 18, 2005.
• 70 FR 16742, April 1, 2005. Final rule to amend the subsistence fishery rules and implement the ceremonial, educational and community subsistence harvest systems. Effective May 2, 2005
• Special Notice, July 2004
• FR 69 41447, July 9, 2004. Proposed regulations to amend the subsistence fishery rules for Pacific halibut in waters off Alaska.
• FR 68 18145, April 15, 2003. Final rule to authorize and manage a subsistence fishery for Pacific halibut in waters in and off Alaska. Includes list of rural communities and federally recognized Alaska Native tribes. Effective May 15, 2003.
• FR 67 54767, August 26, 2002. Proposed regulations to authorize a subsistence fishery for Pacific halibut in waters off Alaska.

Contact Information

Restricted Access Management Program
National Marine Fisheries Service
PO Box 21668
Juneau, AK 99802-1668
Phone: (907) 586-7474 or 586-7202 (option #2)
Phone: (800) 304-4846 (option #2)
Fax: (907) 586-7354
Email: RAM Program

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