A controversial new rule on halibut catch sharing in Southeast and Southcentral Alaska has effectively been put on hold by NOAA Fisheries after a review of thousands of public comments. "The public comment process elicited comments that raised a number of policy and technical issues," NOAA said Wednesday in a status update. It referred the proposal back to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council for more input. The plan to protect the halibut population has pitted commercial fishing interests against businesses that make money off sport anglers -- lodge owners and managers, plus charter operators -- who say new rules could spell the end of their industry.

There's no timetable for resolution of the issue. Read more about NOAA's decision Wednesday at the Peninsula Clarion and at Alaska Dispatch. From the Clarion:

[NOAA spokeswoman Julie] Speegle said the original timeline would have NPFMC officials looking through the more than 4,000 comments made on the plan and developing a final rule to be published in December.

"It's unclear if we will be able to do that at this point," Speegle said.

Speegle was hesitant to say where that action left next summer's halibut fishery.

"There's too many factors and I wouldn't want to speculate on how likely that would be," she said of the plan being implemented in time for next year's management.