The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) is planning to survey halibut off Washington and Oregon (IPHC Area 2A) during June-August 1999. The survey is being funded jointly by IPHC and the Oregon and Washington Departments of Fish and Wildlife. The survey involves fishing standardized setline gear on 84 stations distributed systematically over the shelf between 20 and 275 fathoms. The vessel BLACKHAWK will be used to conduct the survey, and information will be collected on the distribution, relative abundance, size, and age of halibut in this area. Information from the survey along with data from the commercial, sport, and tribal fisheries are used to assess the health of the resource and set safe harvest levels. Although halibut are not as abundant off Washington and Oregon as in British Columbia and Alaska, they are important to commercial, sport, and tribal fisheries in the area.

The IPHC wishes to acknowledge the commitment and support of the Washington and Oregon State agencies in helping to complete this survey for 1999.