Comment from MICHAEL WALLER

The 100 pound fish limit for the charter fisherman will do little to protect the spawning population of Halibut. Charter boats only account for only 6.2% of the total catch. Less than 10% halibut caught in this fishery are over 100 lbs. Do the math you are only talking about .62 % of the halibut caught. If you want to do something about the Halibut population you need to do something about the commercial fishing limits, Limit them to 100lbs and you will have done something. To put a limit on the sport fish size and not the commerical fishery you are just wasting your time. Commercial and sport are allowed catch up to 20% of the total amount available that number is controlled by the IPHC. Over the last 15 years I have closely watched the charter fleet out of Valdez. Charters come and go. It is a tough way to make a buck, reducing the catch to one per person will virtually end charter fishing for halibut. This is I believe the goal by the IPHC, They are only concerned with commercial interest. It is the commercial fisherman, that are lobbying for this. It will also cripple the economy for all those seasonal businesses that rely on tourist and locals alike to come to Valdez and go fishing.. If you want to get serious about protecting the species go back to halibut openers for the commercial guys and limit them to less than 100 lbs. The rest is just a joke. Charter fishing is not the problem!