HALIBUT COMMISSION COMPLETES INTERIM MEETING

The International Pacific Halibut Commission conducted its Interim Meeting November 19 and 20, 1996 in Seattle, Washington. The IPHC staff presented a new stock assessment model which accounted for slower halibut growth rates, and incorporated bycatch mortality of legal-sized halibut and results from research surveys. Analysis done with the new model resulted in higher estimates of exploitable biomass in all areas relative to previous estimates. Work on this year's assessment is still ongoing, and total quantity of halibut available for harvest is not yet known. However, preliminary assessment results indicate that catch limits are likely to increase in all areas. The IPHC staff will release recommendations for catch limits on December 11, and a final determination will be made at the IPHC Annual Meeting January 27 to 30, 1997 in Victoria B.C.

The staff requests that industry proposals for regulations for the 1997 fishery be submitted by December 15, 1996.

ALASKA AND BRITISH COLUMBIA FISHERIES CLOSED

The Alaska and British Columbia Individual Quota fisheries closed on November 15, 1996. Therefore, all areas are closed to commercial halibut fishing for the remainder of 1996. Preliminary commercial landing estimates for Alaska and British Columbia are 36.7 and 9.4 million pounds, respectively.

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