The North Pacific Fishery Management Council on October 4 voted 10-1 for a catch sharing plan he plan in southeast and southcentral Alaska, based on a motion made by Council member Gerry Merrigan, a commercial halibut fisherman from Petersburg. The lone council member voting no, Ed Dersham, said he could not support the plan because it "does not meet the test of fair and equitable."

The plan will go to NMFS for evaluation and analysis next, then to the Secretary of Commerce.  If approved by the U.S. Commerce Department secretary, (est. approval by 2011) the plan will lead to a lower halibut bag limit for charter boat anglers - one halibut instead of two -- in Southeast Alaska for the foreseeable future.