Directed - IPHC Regulatory Area 2A

Washington, Oregon, and California—Directed Commercial Fisheries

IPHC Regulatory Area 2A is located off the USA West Coast in waters off Washington (WA), Oregon (OR), and California (CA). IPHC sets the overall mortality limit for the area. The IPHC Regulatory Area 2A Catch Sharing Plan as put forth by the Pacific Fishery Management Council and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries provides the formulas to then allocate Pacific halibut among user groups in IPHC Regulatory Area 2A.

The directed commercial fishery in this IPHC Regulatory Area is licensed by the IPHC and consists of:

Directed commercial fishery
Incidental commercial Pacific halibut fishery during the sablefish fishery
Incidental commercial Pacific halibut fishery during the salmon troll fishery

Licences

Directed commercial vessels retaining Pacific halibut in IPHC Regulatory Area 2A must be licensed by the IPHC. Federal and State licensing requirements may also apply.

Start the 2022 IPHC Regulatory Area 2A Licensing Application Process Now

Applicants may choose from three directed commercial licences on the application form with the application deadlines noted. All applications must be completed no later than 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on the deadline date.

Directed commercial fishery - 30 April or the next weekday in May if 30 April is a Saturday or Sunday
Incidental commercial fishery during the sablefish fishery – 29 May or the next weekday in May if 29 May is a Saturday or Sunday
Incidental commercial fishery during the salmon troll fishery - 15 March or the next weekday in March if 15 March is a Saturday or Sunday

Directed Commercial Fishery

The non-tribal directed commercial Pacific halibut fishery operates south of Point Chehalis, WA (46°53.30’ N lat), and requires a licence from the IPHC (see above).

This fishery operates during a series of fishing periods as announced in International Pacific Halibut Commission Fishery Regulations following the IPHC Annual Meeting. Specific vessel-length limits, called fishing period limits will be set by the IPHC and announced via IPHC Media Releases.

Incidental Commercial Pacific Halibut Fishery during the Salmon Troll Fishery

The incidental commercial fishery during the salmon troll fishery operates off Washington, Oregon, and California, and requires a licence from the IPHC (see above). In-season actions may be taken by management agencies and landing restrictions may change several times.

For updates, please check the IPHC’s Media Releases, the NOAA Fisheries hotline (1-800-662-9825), or the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife website at: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/mrp/salmon/updatesnew.asp

Incidental Commercial Pacific Halibut Fishery during the Sablefish Fishery

The incidental commercial fishery during the limited entry fixed gear sablefish primary fishery operates north of Point Chehalis, WA (46°53.30’ N lat), and requires a license from the IPHC (see above). Note: a valid Sablefish-endorsed Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery limited entry permit (LEP) issued by NOAA is also required to participate in the sablefish primary season for the limited entry fixed gear fishery. Actions (e.g. landing restrictions) may be taken by management agencies in-season to ensure landings remain within the fishery limit.

For updates, please check the IPHC’s Media Releases, the NOAA Fisheries hotline (1-800-662-9825), or the NOAA Fisheries Public Notices: Fisheries Management Info | NOAA Fisheries

Directed commercial fisheries data organized by IPHC Regulatory Area, year, and sector are available here.

Links

Pacific Fishery Management Council

NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region