IPHC News Release 2017-31 Pacific Halibut Landing Report No. 6

21 November 2017

Pacific Halibut Landing Report No. 6

The following has closed for the Pacific halibut sport fishery in Oregon, U.S.A.:

IPHC Regulatory Area 2A Commercial Fisheries

The total allowable incidental commercial catch of Pacific halibut allocated to the IPHC Regulatory Area 2A salmon troll fishery was 39,810 pounds (~18.06 metric tons, t). A total of 38,621 pounds (~17.52 t) were landed during the 2017 season.

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, was 70,000 pounds (~31.75 t). A total of 35,866 pounds (~16.27 t) were landed during the 2017 season.

The total allowable directed commercial catch of Pacific halibut allocated to the non-treaty fishery, which operates in IPHC Regulatory Area 2A south of Point Chehalis, Washington, was 225,591 pounds (102.33 t). A total of 230,000 pounds (~104.33t) were landed during the 2017 season, over three 10-hour openings.

The total allowable commercial catch of Pacific halibut allocated to the treaty fisheries in IPHC Regulatory Area 2C was 435,900 pounds (~197.72 t). A total of 432,482 pounds (~196.17 t) were landed during the 2016 season.

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, were made in the Alaskan Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) and Community Development Quota (CDQ) fisheries and in the British Columbian Individual Vessel Quota (IVQ) fishery during the 2017 commercial season, which closed on 7 November 2017.

IPHC Regulatory Area	Catch Limit (000s pounds)	Catch (000s pounds)	Number of Landings
2C	4,212	4,044	1,358
3A	7,739	7,587	1,470
3B	3,140	3,022	364
4A	1,390	1,270	174
4B	1,140	1,048	94
4CDE	1,700	1,620	620
Alaska Total	19,321	18,590	4,080
2B	6,272	6,193	705
Grand Total	25,593	24,783	4,785

The catch from Alaskan waters represents 96% of the State’s 2017 commercial fishery catch limit. For comparison, 17.7 million pounds (~8,028.59 t), or 97% of the 2016 catch limit, were landed in 2016.

The catch from British Columbian waters represents 99% of the 2017 Regulatory Area 2B commercial fishery catch limit. For comparison, 6.0 million pounds (~2,721.55 t), or 98% of the 2016 catch limit, had been landed from Regulatory Area 2B in 2016.

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
11 – 13 August	4,682	10
25 – 27 August	3,118	6
8 – 10 September	6,403	13
22 – 24 September	2,125	7
6 – 8 October	1,096	3

The total landed weight of Pacific halibut reported for 2017 Annette Island Reserve Fishery is 64,363 pounds (~29.19 t).

– END –

David T. Wilson, Ph.D.
Executive Director, IPHC
Phone: (206) 634-1838
Fax: (206) 632-2983