2009 HALIBUT LANDING REPORT NO. 8

Quota Share Commercial Fisheries Update

The 2009 quota share halibut fisheries opened on March 21. It is estimated that the following catches and numbers of landings were made in the Alaskan IFQ and CDQ fisheries through October 1, 2009 and in the British Columbian IVQ fishery through September 21, 2009.

The catch off Alaska represents 84% of the 2009 commercial fishery catch limit. For comparison, 44.8 million pounds, or 89% of the 2008 catch limit, were landed in the Alaskan fishery by this same date in 2008; however, the opening date of the 2008 fishery occurred 13 days earlier in the year than that of the 2009 fishery. Thus, to compare opening periods, during the first 194 days of the 2008 Alaskan commercial halibut fishery, 41.5 million pounds, or 83% of the catch limit, were landed.

The catch from British Columbian waters represents 74% of the 2009 commercial fishery catch limit. For comparison, 6.3 million pounds, or 80% of the 2008 catch limit, had been landed from Area 2B by this same date in 2008. Comparing opening periods, during the first 184 days of the 2008 IVQ fishery, 5.8 million pounds, or 73% of the catch limit, had been landed.

Incidental Commercial Halibut Catch in the Area Fixed Gear Sablefish Fishery

The total allowable incidental commercial catch of halibut allocated to the limited entry, fixed gear sablefish fishery which operates in Area 2A north of Point Chehalis, Washington is 11,895 pounds. It is estimated that 4,653 pounds have been landed through September 24. This incidental halibut catch fishery remains open until further notice. For further incidental fishery retention information call the NMFS hotline (1-800-662-9825).

Area 2A Incidental Commercial Halibut Fishery During the Salmon Troll Season

The total allowable incidental commercial catch of halibut allocated to the Area 2A salmon troll fishery is 29,362 pounds. A total of 11,150 pounds of halibut were landed in Washington through the end of August. The incidental halibut catch fishery during the salmon troll season closed on September 15 in the state of Washington.

Annette Islands Reserve Fishery in Area 2C

The Metlakatla Indian Community has been authorized by the United States Government to conduct a commercial halibut fishery within the Annette Islands Reserve. The eighth 48-hour opening of the 2009 season occurred between August 21 and August 23 and resulted in the landing of 5,062 pounds of halibut. The ninth and tenth openings, which occurred between September 4 and September 6 and between September 18 and September 20 respectively, yielded a total catch of 3,567 pounds. After ten openings, a grand total of 28,971 pounds of halibut has been landed in 2009. The Metlakatla Indian Community and the Bureau of Indian Affairs will announce future halibut openings.

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