December 8, 1998IPHC Commission Staff Releases 1999 Commercial
Catch Limit Recommendations
The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) and its
staff have reviewed results of the 1998 halibut stock assessment analysis. The 1999 staff
recommendations are a 1.6% increase in coast-wide quota, to 73.04 million pounds. The
table below presents the 1998 catch limits and the staff proposed 1999 catch limits for
each regulatory area. The stock assessment results show higher biomass to the western
portion of the stock range and lower biomass in much of the southern portion. This results
in smaller recommendations for Areas 2A, 2B, and 3A. Area 2C shows a small increase while
Areas 3B and 4 show larger increases. The current stock assessment procedure accounts for
slower halibut growth rates in recent years, and incorporates bycatch mortality of
legal-sized halibut, results from research surveys, and a revised estimate of natural
mortality.
These recommendations, along with public and industry views on them,
will be considered by IPHC Commissioners and their advisors at the IPHC Annual Meeting in
Prince Rupert, BC Canada during January 25-28, 1999. These recommendations may be updated
for the annual meeting, as final data are included in the assessment, but are not expected
to change significantly. Proposals regarding the quotas or other regulatory action can
be mailed to the IPHC offices by January 4, 1999 for inclusion in the meeting discussions.
For additional information, including discussions of stock
assessment model assumptions, items of concern, apportionment of biomass in Areas 3B and
4, and tables summarizing these results please go to the IPHC web page (www.iphc.washington.edu) for a copy of a report
entitled Preliminary
1999 Catch Limit Recommendations. Additionally, the paper is available at the
Commission offices. Please request the Preliminary 1999
Catch Limit Recommendations paper (seven pages) to have it mailed or faxed.
1999 IPHC Staff Catch Limit Recommendations
| Regulatory Area |
1998 Catch LimitQuota |
1999 Staff Recommended |
2A |
0.82 |
0.661 |
2B |
13.00 |
11.22 |
2C |
10.50 |
10.67 |
3A |
26.00 |
24.73 |
3B |
11.00 |
13.38 |
4A |
3.50 |
4.31 |
4B |
3.50 |
3.97 |
4CDE |
3.50 |
4.102 |
Total |
71.82 |
73.04 |
1
Area 2 recommendations include all removals
designated in the PFMC catch sharing plan
2
Individual regulatory quotas for Areas 4C, 4D, and
4E are designated by the NPFMC catch sharing plan
– END –
Bruce Leaman, Director
Phone: (206) 634-1838
Fax: (206) 632-2983
