IPHC Commission Staff Releases Preliminary 2000 Commercial Catch Limit Recommendations

The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) and its Staff have reviewed results of the 1999 halibut stock assessment analysis. The 2000 Staff recommendations are a 10% decrease in the coast-wide quota, to 66.54 million pounds. The table below presents the 1999 catch limits and the Staff proposed 2000 catch limits for each regulatory area. The stock assessment results show biomass similar to last year in the western portion of the stock range and a steadily declining biomass in the eastern and southern portions, as strong year classes pass out of the stock. In conjunction with a continued decline in recruitment and analysis of setline survey data, these results produce lower catch limit recommendations for Areas 2A, 2B, 2C, and 3A. Areas 3B and 4 show relatively little change from 1999. The current stock assessment procedure accounts for a continued decline in halibut growth rates for fish in the central portion of the range over the past decade, lower recruitment, bycatch mortality of legal-sized halibut, and results from research surveys. Staff has also incorporated additional adjustments concerning changes in baiting practices over the history of IPHC surveys. These adjustments will be examined further at the Annual Meeting and through experimental programs over the coming year. The outlook for the stock is for a decline from the record high levels of recent years until increased recruitment to the stock occurs.

Proposals concerning changes to catch limits should be submitted to the Commission by December 31, 1999. Catch limit proposal forms are available on the Commission’s web page (http://www.iphc.washington.edu) or via fax (206-632-2983) from the Commission office.