19 September 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 taken in the Alaskan IFQ and CDQ fisheries through 17 September 2017 and in the British Columbian IVQ fishery through 14 September 2017.
IPHC Regulatory Area | Catch Limit (000s pounds) | Catch (000s pounds) | Number of Landings |
---|---|---|---|
2C | 4,212 | 3,629 | 1,146 |
3A | 7,739 | 6,386 | 1,199 |
3B | 3,140 | 2,400 | 279 |
4A | 1,390 | 983 | 129 |
4B | 1,140 | 895 | 76 |
4CDE | 1,700 | 1,412 | 597 |
Alaska Total | 19,321 | 15,705 | 3,426 |
2B | 6,272 | 4,743 | 513 |
Grand Total | 25,593 | 20,448 | 3,939 |
The catch off Alaska represents 81% of Alaska’s 2017 commercial fishery catch limit. For comparison, 15.7 million pounds, or 86% 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 76% of the 2017 commercial fishery catch limit. For comparison, 4.5 million pounds, or 73% 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 IPHC Regulatory Area 2A. After two unrestricted fisheries, a restricted fishery, and a series of mop-up fisheries, a total of 432,482 pounds of Pacific halibut have been reported landed as of 15 September 2017.
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 26,353 pounds of Pacific halibut have been landed through 15 September 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 |
11 – 13 August | 4,682 | 10 |
25 – 27 August | 3,118 | 6 |
The total landed weight of Pacific halibut reported to date is 54,439 pounds. The Metlakatla Indian Community and the Bureau of Indian Affairs will announce future Pacific halibut openings.
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