Call for Catch Limit Proposal Comments

The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) invites the public and industry to submit proposals concerning IPHC staff catch limit recommendations or related issues (such as stock assessment) to the IPHC for inclusion at the 2008 IPHC Annual Meeting. Blank forms for submission are available through the IPHC office or from the web page. All completed submissions that are received (or postmarked) by the deadline will be included in discussion at the Annual Meeting. Comments may be posted on the IPHC homepage (www.iphc.washington.edu) and copies can also be available by mail or fax by calling the IPHC offices (206-634-1838).

Please be aware that the IPHC regulates only the catch limits by IPHC Regulatory Area and not by fishery (commercial or sport). Internal allocation issues (catch limit distribution, for example) are handled domestically and should be addressed to the respective governments.

Due to the need for adequate staff time to assemble Catch Limit comments prior to the IPHC Annual Meeting, the deadline is December 31, 2007.  Any information to be included must be received (or postmarked) at the IPHC office by the submission date. Comments received after the deadline may not be included or reviewed at the Annual Meeting.  

Comments received to date:

Received from:

 Topic:
Robert A. Strassmaier Area 2A catch limit recommendation
Will Koger Area 2C catch limit to remain the same or increase
Greg Elwood Support for 2008 Staff recommendations
Charles E. Wood Coastwide reduction of catch limits
Suzanne West Coastwide reduction of catch limits
Chuck Ashcroft Maintain a 22.5% harvest rate in Area 2B
James L. Larson Reduce catch limits in all areas by 9%
Jay M. Haun Consideration of the effects of earlier fishing seasons
Robert T. Mosher Stay with the closed-area model
Stanley Hjort Reduce catch limits in all areas by the same percentage 
Carl Peterson Jr. Lower catch limit in Area 3A by 25%
David Barth Stay with the closed-area model
Earl Comstock Re-evaluation of the Area 2C commercial catch limit, considering ADF&G sport charter catch estimates
Terry Henshaw 10% catch limit reduction in Area 2B (includes late regulatory proposals) 
Gerry Merrigan Catch limit recommendations for all areas
John Webb Support for staff recommendations in Areas 3B, 4A, and 4B (comments received after deadline)
George Kirk Stay with closed-area model (comments received after deadline)
James and Patricia Phillips Harvest Areas 3A, 3B, and 4A at 2006 levels and limit decrease in 2B and 2C to 10% (comments received after deadline)

Instructions for submission:

Please fill out all areas of the form. Remember to complete the name and contact information section and sign the comment form. If additional space is needed to answer one or more of the questions please attach additional sheets.

  1. Proposed Catch Limit and Area – List the IPHC Regulatory Area and your proposed catch limit.

  2. Supporting evidence – Describe the reasoning behind your proposed catch area limit. What supporting evidence do you have regarding your proposal? For example, historical catch rates, juvenile recruitment, or other biological reasons supporting the assertion. 

 Catch limit comment form (pdf, 70K)

Submit the proposal and any supporting documents to the IPHC by December 31, 2007 via:

US Mail

IPHC
PO Box 95009
Seattle, WA 98145
U.S.A.

 Package Delivery (FedEx, UPS)

IPHC
Rm. 250, OTB, U of W
1503 NE Boat St.
Seattle, WA 98195-7951
U.S.A.

 Fax

206-632-2983

Note:   Regulatory proposals or administrative issues associated with the IPHC regulations must be submitted by using the IPHC Regulations Proposal Submission Form and be received by November 15, 2007 for inclusion in discussions at the IPHC 2008 meeting.  

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