The total allowable incidental commercial catch of halibut allocated to the salmon troll fishery was 23,490 pounds. The retention of halibut in the salmon troll fishery closed as scheduled June 30 with an estimated halibut catch of 10,000 pounds. The remaining catch of 13,490 pounds will be rolled into the directed commercial catch limit, as required by the Catch Sharing Plan adopted by the Pacific Fishery Management Council.

The July 7 commercial fishing period in Area 2A resulted in a catch of about 116,000 pounds, leaving 17,108 pounds in the commercial catch limit. The total commercial catch limit remaining, including the rolled-over amount from the salmon troll fishery, is 30,598 pounds.

Area 2A will reopen on July 21 for 10 hours from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time. The fishery is restricted to waters that are south of Point Chehalis, Washington (46^o53’18"N. latitude) under regulations promulgated by National Marine Fisheries Service. Fishing period limits as indicated in the following table will be in effect for this opening.

*Weights are after 2% has been deducted for ice and slime if fish are not washed prior to weighing.

The appropriate vessel length class and letter is printed on each halibut license.

The fishing period limit is shown in terms of dressed, head-off weight as well as dressed, head-on weight, although fishermen are reminded that regulations require that all halibut from Area 2A be landed with the head on.

The fishing period limit applies to the vessel, not the individual fisherman, and any landings over the vessel limit will be subject to forfeiture and fine.

The Oregon all-depth Pacific halibut sport fishery from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain will open for one day on Friday, August 6. Approximately 19,775 pounds remain in the all-depth fishery sub-quota for harvest, which is less than the projected catch of 27,000 pounds. Therefore, approximately 7,000 pounds will be re-allocated from the inside 30-fathom Pacific halibut sport fishery, as allowed under the Catch Sharing Plan. Any poundage remaining in the all-depth Pacific halibut sub-quota after August 6 will be restored to the inside 30-fathom Pacific halibut sport fishery. The daily limit is the same as the possession limit, which is the first Pacific halibut taken 32 inches or greater.

It is estimated that the following catches and number of landings were made in the Alaskan IFQ/CDQ, and in the British Columbia (Area 2B) IVQ fisheries through July 11, 1999.

The Alaskan catch represents 53% of the catch limit. For comparison, from March 15 to July 14, 1998, 25.7 million pounds or 44% of the 1998 catch limit were landed in the Alaskan IFQ/CDQ fishery. From March 15 to July 14, 1998, 7.1 million pounds or 55% of the catch limit were landed from Area 2B compared to 60% in 1999.

The Metlakatla Indian community has been authorized by the United States Government to conduct a commercial halibut fishery within the Annette Island Reserve. Three 48-hour fishing periods occurred between May 22 and June 20, producing a total catch of 6,512 pounds. The Metlakatla Indian Community and the Bureau of Indian Affairs will announce future halibut openings.