NON-TREATY DIRECTED COMMERCIAL FISHING PERIOD LIMITS IN AREA 2A FOR 28 JUNE FISHERY
The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) has determined that fishing period limits will be required during the 28 June 10-hour non-treaty directed commercial fishing period in Area 2A to avoid exceeding the 225,591 pound (net weight) catch limit. The 28 June fishing period will begin at 8:00 AM and end at 6:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time. The fishery is restricted to waters south of Point Chehalis, Washington (46°53.30’ N. latitude) under regulations promulgated by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Fishing period limits as indicated in the following table will be in effect for this opening.
Vessel Class
Fishing Period Limit (pounds)
Length
Letter
Dressed, head-on with ice/slime
Dressed, head-off without ice/slime
0-25
A
860
755
26-30
B
1,075
945
31-35
C
1,715
1,510
36-40
D
4,735
4,165
41-45
E
5,090
4,480
46-50
F
6,095
5,365
51-55
G
6,800
5,985
56+
H
10,225
9,000
The appropriate vessel length class and letter are printed on each vessel license. The fishing period limit applies to the vessel, not the individual fisher, and any landings over the vessel limit will be subject to forfeiture and fine.
The fishing period limit is shown in terms of dressed, head-off weight as well as dressed, head-on weight, although fishers are reminded that regulations require that all halibut from Area 2A be landed with the head on. Additionally, fishers are reminded that there is a 72-hour rule, whereby a vessel that will be used in the directed fishery may not be used to fish for any species of fish anywhere in Area 2A during the 72-hour period immediately before the directed commercial fishing period unless all catch of other species has been completely offloaded or the vessel submits to a hold inspection by an authorized officer prior to the start of the fishing period (see IPHC Pacific Halibut Fishery Regulations 2017, sections 19(7)(a)(b) and 19(8)(a)(b)).
NMFS has implemented mandatory area closures that are in effect for the directed Pacific halibut fishery to protect specific rockfish species. For the exact coordinates of the closed areas, go to the following web page: http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/management/groundfish_closures/groundfish_closed_areas.html. For further information, call the NMFS hotline at 1 800-662-9825, then press “7” for the halibut fisheries.
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Document
Title
PDF
Report #
Year
Date Published
IPHC-2017-NR007.pdf
Non-Treaty Directed Commercial Fishing Period Limits in Area 2A for 28 June Fishery
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 27 June 2017 and in the British Columbian IVQ fishery through 25 June 2017.
IPHC Regulatory Area
Catch Limit (000s pounds)
Catch (000s pounds)
Number of Landings
2C
4,212
2,690
656
3A
7,739
4,381
779
3B
3,140
1,152
153
4A
1,390
320
38
4B
1,140
405
29
4CDE
1,700
207
144
Alaska Total
19,321
9,155
1,799
2B
6,272
2,638
250
Grand Total
25,593
11,793
2,049
The catch off Alaska represents 47% of Alaska’s 2017 commercial fishery catch limit. For comparison, 9.3 million pounds, or 51% of the 2016 catch limit, were landed in the Alaskan fishery by this same date in 2016.
The catch from British Columbia (Regulatory Area 2B) waters represents 42% of the 2017 commercial fishery catch limit. For comparison, 2.6 million pounds, or 41% of the 2016 catch limit, had been landed from 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. Preliminary catch estimates indicate that 40,993 pounds of Pacific halibut were landed during a 35-hour restricted fishery opening beginning on 1 May 2017. A total of 305,560 pounds of Pacific halibut have been reported landed thus far in 2017. Mop-up fisheries were scheduled for 19-20 May (Washington coast) and 22-23 May (Puget Sound). Data from the mop-up fishery dates are not yet available.
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 Regulatory Area 2A salmon troll fishery is 39,810 pounds. Incidental catch of halibut in the salmon troll fishery was allowed beginning 1 April. It is estimated 29,233 pounds of Pacific halibut have been landed through 27 June. Retention of halibut caught incidental to the commercial salmon fishery will continue after June 30, with a change in landing limits. Effective July 1: 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 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 3,404 pounds of Pacific halibut have been landed through 26 June. 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
The total landed weight of Pacific halibut reported to date is 31,558 pounds. The Metlakatla Indian Community and the Bureau of Indian Affairs will announce future Pacific halibut openings.
Regulatory Area 2A Incidental Commercial Pacific Halibut Fishery During the Salmon Troll Season Closed
Closed: The total allowable incidental commercial catch of Pacific halibut allocated to the salmon troll fishery in IPHC Regulatory Area 2A is 39,810 pounds. Recent projections indicate the allocation has been harvested. The IPHC Regulatory Area 2A incidental commercial Pacific halibut fishery during the salmon troll season closed at 11:59 PM on 3 August 2017. Vessels in possession of any Pacific halibut must cease fishing for salmon until all Pacific halibut have been offloaded. All Pacific halibut must be landed and delivered no later than 11:59 PM Friday 4 August 2017.
REOPENING SPORT FISHERIES: OREGON CENTRAL COAST NEARSHORE
The following areas are open or are re-opening for the Pacific halibut sport fishery in Oregon, U.S.A.:
Open: Oregon Central Coast Sub-area summer all-depth Pacific halibut sport fishery – The preliminary catch estimate for the central Oregon all-depth summer Pacific halibut sport fishery openings through 19 August 2017 is 41,314 pounds, leaving an estimated 24,967 pounds in the harvest allocation. This fishery remains open every other week on Friday and Saturday as quota remains, with the next opening scheduled for 1-2 September 2017.
Open: Southern Oregon Sub-area Pacific halibut sport fishery – The preliminary catch estimates from the Southern Oregon Sub-area total 1,660 pounds, leaving 8,379 pounds to be harvested. As removals from this region tend to decrease significantly after Labor Day, and to optimize attainment of Oregon’s sport fishery catch limit, 4,000 pounds were transferred to the Oregon Central Coast Sub-area nearshore region to reopen that area. This leaves 4,379 pounds to be harvested in the Southern Oregon Sub-area.
Re-Open: Oregon Central Coast subarea nearshore Pacific halibut sport fishery – The preliminary catch estimate for the Oregon Central Coast subarea nearshore Pacific halibut sport fishery through 30 July 2017 was 27,967 pounds, leaving an estimated 930 pounds unharvested. To optimize attainment of the Oregon Pacific halibut sport fishery catch limit, fishery managers have transferred 4,000 pounds from the available Southern Oregon Sub-area sport fishery catch limit to the Oregon Central Coast subarea nearshore Pacific halibut sport fishery catch limit (for an available catch of 4,930 pounds). This action allows for the reopening of the Central Coast Sub-area seven days a week effective Sunday, 3 September 2017 at 12:01 AM (PDT) until 31 October, or the adjusted quota is met.
For more information on these updates please refer to:
In all marine areas open to Pacific halibut sport fishing in Washington, Oregon, and California, there is a one-fish daily catch limit and no minimum size restriction.
Due to the short notice nature of this notification, it is posted to our website only, and no paper copy has been mailed out.
Document
Title
PDF
Report #
Year
Date Published
IPHC-2017-NR025
Reopening Sport Fisheries: Oregon Central Coast Nearshore
