In its meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) has decided to reduce the catch limits for water ranging from the West Coast and British Columbia to the Bering Sea. It is also decided that the season for Alaska’s halibut fishery will get off to a later start. The fishermen of Alaska are not happy with as they wil have to haul in fewer fish this year.
According to IPHC the Alaska halibut catch was set at 45.6 million pounds, down from 50 million last year, which are mentioned below:
• 5.02 million pounds for longliners in Southeastern. They were bracing for a 30 percent cut to 4 million pounds.
• 21.7 million pounds for Alaska’s biggest halibut hole — Area 3A, the central Gulf. That’s down about 1 million pounds.
• 10.9 million pounds for Area 3B, the western Gulf. That’s the same as last year.
• 2.55 million pounds for Area 4A, the Aleutians, a cut from last year.
• 1.9 million pounds for Area 4B of the Bering Sea, a small increase.
• 3.46 million pounds for Areas 4C, D and E, an increase.
The IPHC said that the halibut fishery will open March 21. Last year it started March 8. It is noted that the project aimed at compiling labor data on Alaska’s fishing crews is gaining traction as a mix of state and federal agencies get down to business this week.
Geron Bruce, deputy director of the state Commercial Fisheries Division, informed that it is found that someone buys a crew license but it is difficult to know if they fish, what they fish for, how many fisheries they participate in, for how long — any of that kind of stuff. Mike Catsi, director of the Southwest Alaska Municipal League, said that it is difficult for both harvesters and communities to apply for economic assistance or benefit from other state and federal programs. It is told that the federal government, which co-manages several of Alaska’s largest fisheries, is also providing funding.
