IPHC News Release 2017-21 Pacific Halibut Landing Report No. 4

3 August 2017

Regulatory Area 2A Non-treaty Directed Commercial Pacific Halibut Fishery Closed

The International Pacific Halibut Commission reports that the total catch limit for the IPHC Regulatory Area 2A non-treaty directed commercial Pacific halibut fishery has been reached following the 26 July 2017 fishing period. Therefore, the IPHC Regulatory Area 2A non-treaty directed commercial Pacific halibut fishery is closed for the remainder of 2017.

Quota Share Commercial Fisheries Update

The 2017 quota share Pacific halibut fisheries opened on 11 March 2017. It is estimated that the following commercial landings, in pounds and numbers, were made in the Alaskan IFQ and CDQ fisheries through 30 July 2017 and in the British Columbian IVQ fishery through 26 July 2017.

IPHC Regulatory Area	Catch Limit (000s pounds)	Catch (000s pounds)	Number of Landings
2C	4,212	2,925	805
3A	7,739	4,892	911
3B	3,140	1,479	180
4A	1,390	511	62
4B	1,140	589	49
4CDE	1,700	604	358
Alaska Total	19,321	11,000	2,365
2B	6,272	3,447	347
Grand Total	25,593	14,447	2,712

The catch off Alaska represents 57% of Alaska’s 2017 commercial fishery catch limit. For comparison, 11.3 million pounds, or 62% of the 2016 catch limit, were landed in the Alaskan fishery by this same date in 2016.

The catch from British Columbia (IPHC Regulatory Area 2B) waters represents 55% of the 2017 commercial fishery catch limit. For comparison, 3.3 million pounds, or 53% of the 2016 catch limit, had been landed from IPHC Regulatory Area 2B by this same date in 2016.

IPHC Regulatory Area 2A Commercial Treaty Indian Fisheries

In 2017, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) allocated 435,900 pounds of Pacific halibut for commercial use to the Treaty Indian tribes of Regulatory Area 2A-1. An estimated catch of 305,847 pounds of Pacific halibut was reported after unrestricted fisheries beginning on 20 March 2017 and 15 April 2017 and a restricted fishery beginning on 1 May 2017. Mop-up fisheries scheduled for 19-20 May 2017 (Washington coast), 22-23 May 2017 (Puget Sound), 18-19 June 2017, and 21-22 July 2017 resulted in the landing of 123,864 pounds of Pacific halibut. A total of 429,711 pounds of Pacific halibut have been reported landed thus far in 2017.

IPHC Regulatory Area 2A Incidental Commercial Pacific Halibut Fishery During the Salmon Troll Season

The total allowable incidental commercial catch of Pacific halibut allocated to the IPHC Regulatory Area 2A salmon troll fishery is 39,810 pounds. Incidental catch of Pacific halibut in the salmon troll fishery was allowed beginning 1 April 2017. It is estimated 36,642 pounds of Pacific halibut have been landed through 31 July 2017. Landing limits effective 1 July 2017: one Pacific halibut per each four Chinook, except one Pacific halibut may be possessed or landed without meeting the ratio requirement, and no more than 10 Pacific halibut may be possessed or landed per trip. For details on incidental fishery retention information, call the NMFS hotline (1 800-662-9825 press 7 for Pacific halibut information).

IPHC Regulatory Area 2A Incidental Commercial Pacific Halibut Fishery During the Limited Entry, Fixed-Gear Sablefish Fishery

The total allowable incidental commercial catch of Pacific halibut allocated to the limited entry, fixed-gear sablefish fishery, which operates in IPHC Regulatory Area 2A north of Point Chehalis, Washington, is 70,000 pounds. Incidental catch of Pacific halibut in the sablefish fishery was allowed beginning 1 April 2017. Preliminary landing estimates indicate that 10,173 pounds of Pacific halibut have been landed through 26 July 2017. For further incidental fishery retention information, call the NMFS hotline (1-800-662-9825 press 7 for Pacific halibut information).

Annette Islands Reserve Fishery in IPHC Regulatory Area 2C

The Metlakatla Indian Community has been authorized by the United States Government to conduct a commercial Pacific halibut fishery within the Annette Islands Reserve. The following table lists Pacific halibut catch and numbers of participating vessels by fishing period.

Fishing Period Dates	Catch (net pounds)	Number of Vessels
14 – 16 April	2,994	23
05 – 07 May	5,158	12
19 – 21 May	7,914	18
02 – 04 June	5,356	10
16 – 18 June	10,136	15
30 June – 02 July	5,076	8
14 – 16 July	5,778	11
28 – 30 July	4,227	10

The total landed weight of Pacific halibut reported to date is 46,639 pounds. The Metlakatla Indian Community and the Bureau of Indian Affairs will announce future Pacific halibut openings.

– END –