IPHC News Release 2017-29 Pacific Halibut Landing Report No. 5

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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