HALIBUT COMMISSION COMPLETES INTERIM MEETING

The International Pacific Halibut Commission conducted its Interim Meeting November 18 and 19, 1997 in Seattle, Washington. The IPHC staff again discussed the new revised stock assessment model that was presented last year, and which accounts for slower halibut growth rates, incorporates bycatch mortality of legal-sized halibut, and results from research surveys. The IPHC staff will release recommendations for catch limits on December 20, and a final determination will be made at the IPHC Annual Meeting January 26 to 29, 1998 in Anchorage, Alaska.

The staff also made presentations regarding ongoing science and research projects to commissioners, advisors, and representatives of the Conference Board and Processors Advisory Group.

The staff requests that industry proposals for regulations for the 1997 fishery be submitted by January 2, 1998.

ALASKA AND BRITISH COLUMBIA FISHERIES CLOSED

The Alaska and British Columbia Individual Quota fisheries closed on November 15, 1997. Therefore, all areas are closed to commercial halibut fishing for the remainder of 1997. Preliminary commercial landing estimates for Alaska and British Columbia are 51.1 and 12.1 million pounds, respectively.

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