After a VERY contentious meeting with Canada, the IPHC Commissioners this morning set 2020 halibut season dates and mortality or catch limits. The Alaska area representatives, both charter and commercial, worked hard to arrive at a unanimous Alaska position that met area catch sharing plan minimums and salvaged fishing seasons to the extent supportable by the resource and the painful fixed allocations to Area 2A and 2B (70% fixed; 30% based on surveyed distribution). Huge thanks to the ALFA team for their leadership at the meeting!
IPHC Action February 6, 2020
Halibut season open dates: March 14-November 15th 2020
Catch limits:
2A 1.65 (no reduction per negotiated share)
2B 6.83 Mlbs (no reduction per negotiated historic share agreement)
2C 5.85 million pounds (8.3% reduction from 2019 levels)
3A 12.20 million pounds (10.3% reduction from 2019)
3B 3.12 million pounds (7.6% reduction from 2019)
4A 1.75 million pounds (9.7% reduction from 2019)
4B 1.31 million pounds (9% reduction from 2019)
4CDE 3.90 Mlbs (bycatch averaged over 3 years;FCEY of1.66; 2.5% reduction)
TOTAL 36.60 million pounds for an SPR 42%
Vote: 2 from US and 2 from Canada in favor