| January 26, 2004
HALIBUT
COMMISSION COMPLETES 2004 ANNUAL MEETING
The
International Pacific Halibut Commission completed its
Eightieth Annual Meeting in Juneau, Alaska, with Dr.
James Balsiger of Juneau, Alaska presiding as Chair. The
Commission is recommending to the governments of Canada
and the United States, catch limits for 2004 totaling
76,505,000 pounds, an increase from a comparable value
of 75,990,000 pounds in 2003.
The
Commission staff reported on the assessment of the
Pacific halibut stock in 2003. There were some
significant changes in the assessment, including the
first separate assessment of the male and female
components of the stock. Lower growth rates of halibut
in recent years and different growth rates between the
sexes prompted the staff to perform the separate
assessments and insure that mortality on the females was
not excessive. Staff also undertook the first analytic
assessments of Areas 3B, 4A, and 4B. Changes in the rate
at which fish, especially males, recruit to the fishing
gear will require additional analyses over the coming
year, to determine if the existing 32-inch size limit is
still appropriate. In addition, over the coming year the
Commission staff will continue to investigate a new
harvest policy that may result in greater stability in
the yield from the fishery and insulate the process of
setting catch limits from technological changes in the
assessment. A joint industry – Commission working
group will address and report on this issue during 2004.
The halibut stock is healthy in the central and southern
portions of the range (Areas 3A through 2A) but is
believed to have declined in Areas 3B through Area 4,
and lower catch limits are required in those areas.
Seasons
and Catch Limits
The
Commission received regulatory proposals for 2004 from
the scientific staff, Canadian and United States
harvesters and processors, and other fishery agencies.
The Commission will recommend to the governments the
following catch limits for 2004 in Area 2A (California,
Oregon, and Washington), Area 2B (British Columbia),
Area 2C (southeastern Alaska), Area 3A (central Gulf),
Area 3B (western Gulf), Area 4A (eastern Aleutians),
Area 4B (western Aleutians), Area 4C (Pribilof Islands),
Area 4D (northwestern Bering Sea), and Area 4E (Bering
Sea flats):
|
Area
|
Catch
Limit (pounds)
|
| 2A
Non-treaty directed commercial (south of Point
Chehalis) |
252,475
|
| 2A
Non-treaty incidental catch in salmon troll |
44,554 |
2A
Non-treaty incidental catch in sablefish
longline fishery
(north of Point Chehalis) |
70,000 |
| 2A
Treaty Indian commercial |
523,600 |
| 2A
Treaty Indian ceremonial and subsistence
(year-round) |
19,400 |
| 2A
Sport – North of Columbia River |
272,942 |
| 2A
Sport – South of Columbia River |
297,029 |
|
2A
Total
|
1,480,000 |
| 2B
(includes sport catch allocation) |
13,800,000 |
| 2C |
10,500,000 |
| 3A |
25,060,000 |
| 3B |
15,600,000 |
| 4A |
3,470,000 |
| 4B |
2,810,000 |
| 4C |
1,720,000 |
| 4D |
1,720,000 |
| 4E |
345,000 |
|
Area
4 total
|
10,065,000 |
| Total |
76,505,000 |
The
Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada will
allocate the adopted Area 2B catch limit between sport
and commercial fisheries.
The
catch limits for Regulatory Areas 4C, 4D, and 4E
reflect the catch-sharing plan implemented by the
North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC),
which allows the Commission to set biologically-based
catch limits for Areas 4A, 4B, and a combined Area
4C-D-E. The catch-sharing plan allows Area 4D
Community Development Quota (CDQ) harvest to be taken
in Area 4E.
The
catch-sharing plan implemented by the Pacific Fishery
Management Council (PFMC) for Area 2A was adopted by
the Commission and is reflected in the catch limits
adopted for the Area 2A fisheries. Area 2A fishing
dates for an incidental commercial halibut fishery
concurrent with salmon troll fishing seasons and the
incidental commercial halibut fishery during the
sablefish fishery north of Point Chehalis will be
established under United States domestic regulations
established by National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).
The remainder of the Area 2A catch-sharing plan,
including sport fishing seasons and depth
restrictions, will be determined under regulations
promulgated by NMFS. For further information of the
depth restrictions in the commercial directed halibut
fishery, incidental halibut during the sablefish
fishery, and the sport fisheries, call the NMFS
hotline (1-800-662-9825).
In
Area 2A, seven 10-hour fishing periods for the
non-treaty directed commercial fishery are
recommended: June 23, July 14, July 28, August 11,
August 25, September 15, and September 29, 2004. All
fishing periods will begin at 8:00 a.m. and end at
6:00 p.m. local time, and will be further restricted
by fishing period limits announced at a later date.
The
staff reported to the Commission on a joint agency –
industry meeting that investigated the logistic issues
that must be addressed to extend the halibut fishing
season. The working group agreed generally that a
10.5-month season could be implemented with
approximately one year lead time but a 12-month season
was significantly more difficult to implement. To
facilitate a potential future extension of the
commercial halibut season, the Commission will
recommend to NMFS that the Quota Share regulations be
amended to reference the dates of the halibut and
sablefish seasons, rather than specific dates of the
year. The Commission conducted extensive discussions
on the season extension issue and received several
industry proposals and public testimony. After
reviewing staff information and proposals from the
harvesting and processing sector, the Commission voted
on a season similar to 2003. Further, it was agreed to
open the season on a Sunday to facilitate marketing.
Therefore, the treaty Indian commercial fishery in
Area 2A, the Canadian Individual Vessel Quota (IVQ)
fishery in Area 2B, and the United States Individual
Fishing Quota (IFQ) and CDQ fisheries in Areas 2C, 3A,
3B, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E will all commence at 12
noon local time on February 29 and terminate at 12
noon local time on November 15, 2004. The IPHC staff
was directed to evaluate March landings including
daily landing patterns, fish quality, and fish size.
The staff was also instructed to review the
possibilities of winter tagging work to further
evaluate migratory concerns.
Regulatory
Changes and Issues
The
Commission approved changes to the regulations that
define tag fish retention. The changes included
defining the tag as an external tag, and clarifying
that any fisher at any time can retain a halibut that
has an IPHC tag attached. The halibut needs to have
the tag attached at the time of landing and it will be
made available to the Commission or an authorized
officer. Only commercially licensed halibut vessels
can sell legal-sized tagged halibut.
For
the U.S. fishery, the requirement to mark the setline
or skate marker buoys was revised to state that the
vessel name could be in addition to a vessel's state
license or registration number but not used as the
only marking.
The
Commission revised the regulation referring to the
Prohibited Species Donation Program administered by
NMFS to state that a person can "retain, possess,
and dispose" of halibut from this program. The
change allows the offal of halibut donated under this
program to be used as fish meal and oil.
The
Commission removed an obsolete regulation that made
implementation of the Customary and Traditional
Fishing Regulations in Alaska contingent on NMFS’
publication of regulations for this fishery. Other
regulations pertaining to the Customary and
Traditional Fishery in Alaska remain in effect.
Other
Actions
There
were several issues discussed that the staff will be
continuing to review in 2004, including a hook size
study, as the fleet's gear has changed over the last
several years, and a review of the 32-inch size limit.
The
staff proposal to require an IPHC permit for retaining
halibut for research was not approved. The Commission
agreed with the intent of the proposal but wished to
consider the impacts of this requirement on other
agency activities. The Commission asked staff to work
with other agency staff to review the current
permitting process and provide additional information
for further evaluation.
The
Commission reviewed the request from the Alaska Food
Coalition for a food bank donation program in the Gulf
of Alaska. There were some concerns with the proposal,
and the staff was directed to provide the Alaska Food
Coalition with feedback on the proposal.
The
Commission honoured Mr. Lawren Best of Sooke, British
Columbia as the second recipient of the IPHC Merit
Scholarship. Mr. Best attended the meeting and was
presented with a certificate and plaque, as well as
the scholarship of $2,000 (U.S.). The Commissioners
expressed their continued support for the scholarship
program and commended the Scholarship Committee for
their efforts in assessing the candidates.
The
Commission noted that halibut bycatch mortality in
non-target fisheries was reduced slightly in 2003,
continuing the trend initiated by the 1991 Commission
agreement to achieve lower bycatch mortality levels.
However, the Commission agrees that further reductions
are desirable and that current levels of mortality
reduce yield to the directed halibut fisheries. The
Commission will continue to work with agencies of the
two governments to achieve reductions in halibut
bycatch mortality.
The
recommended regulations for the 2004 halibut fishery
will become official as soon as they are approved by
the Canadian and United States Governments. The
Commission will publish and distribute regulation
pamphlets.
The
next Annual Meeting of the Commission is planned for
Victoria, British Columbia from January 18 to 21,
2005. The Canadian Government commissioner, Dr.
Richard Beamish, was elected Chair for the coming
year. The United States Government commissioner, Dr.
James Balsiger, was elected as Vice Chair. Other
Canadian commissioners are Clifford Atleo and John
Secord. The other United States commissioners are
Ralph Hoard and Phillip Lestenkof. Dr. Bruce Leaman is
the Executive Director of the Commission.
-
END -
Bruce
M. Leaman, Executive Director
Phone: (206) 634-1838
Web: www.iphc.washington.edu
|
