| June 6, 2000
2000 Halibut Landing Report No. 4
Non-treaty Commercial Fishing Period Limits in Area 2A
The Commission has determined that fishing
period limits will be required during the 10-hour, July 5
non-treaty directed commercial fishing period in Area 2A to
avoid exceeding the 138,632 pound catch limit. The July 5
fishing period will begin at 8:00 a.m. and end at 6:00 p.m. The
fishery is restricted to waters that are south of Point
Chehalis, Washington (46° 53’18"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.
|
Vessel Class |
Fishing Period Limit (pounds) |
|
Length |
Letter |
Dressed, head-on |
Dressed, head-off* |
|
0-25 |
A |
350 |
310 |
|
26-30 |
B |
445 |
390 |
|
31-35 |
C |
705 |
620 |
|
36-40 |
D |
1,950 |
1,715 |
|
41-45 |
E |
2,095 |
1,845 |
|
46-50 |
F |
2,505 |
2,205 |
|
51-55 |
G |
2,795 |
2,460 |
|
56+ |
H |
4,205 |
3,700 |
|
*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 are printed on
each vessel 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.
Northwest Treaty Tribes Fishery in Area 2A
In 2000 the Northwest treaty Indian tribes
were allocated a total allowable catch of 315,500 pounds in
subarea 2A-1 (northern Washington coast); 10,500 pounds are
reserved for ceremonial and subsistence purposes, leaving
305,500 pounds for the treaty Indian commercial fishery. The
unrestricted fishery catch of 186,264 pounds was taken in two
openings. The restricted fishery was limited to 500 pounds per
trip and the catch totaled 117,901 pounds. The treaty Indian
commercial halibut fishery closed for the year on May 10 with a
total catch of 304,165 pounds, 835 pounds under the catch limit.
Incidental Commercial Halibut Catch in the
Area 2A Salmon Troll Fishery
The total allowable incidental commercial
catch of halibut allocated to the salmon troll fishery was
24,464 pounds. As of late May, it was estimated that
approximately 10,000 pounds were landed.
Area 2A Sport Halibut Season Openings and
Closures
Washington
The Puget Sound and Strait of Juan de Fuca
(east of the Sekiu River) opened May 25 and will close July 27
as scheduled. Sport halibut fishing is open five days a week
from Thursday through Monday. The daily bag limit and possession
limit is one halibut with no minimum size limit. The projected
harvest for the season is 49,137 pounds.
Through May 28, the harvest for the northwest
Washington coast (Sekiu River to Queets River) is 49,860 pounds,
about half of the 99,774 pound quota. Halibut fishing is open
five days per week, Tuesday through Saturday, with a one halibut
daily bag and possession limit and no minimum size limit.
All sport halibut fishing is closed for the
remainder of 2000 on the southwest Washington coast (Queets
River to Leadbetter Point). The all-depth fishery closed on May
29 and the near-shore fishery closed on June 2 at 11:59PM.
Preliminary harvest estimates indicate 35,734 pounds have been
caught, exceeding the 34,482 pound catch limit. An increase in
the average weight of halibut landed in the last week of this
fishery lead to a rapid closure.
About 20 percent of the Columbia River (Leadbetter
Point to Cape Falcon) sport halibut quota has been taken. This
fishery is open seven days a week with a one halibut daily bag
and possession limit. The first halibut taken with a length of
32 inches or greater must be kept. A total of 6,348 pounds
remain in the season quota.
Oregon
Good weather and fishing contributed to both
the north central Oregon (Cape Falcon to Florence north jetty)
and south central Oregon (Florence north jetty to Humbug Mt.)
areas exceeding their quotas in the May all-depth fishery. The
north central harvest was 112,953 pounds compared to a quota of
97,630 pounds. The south central harvest was 15,620 pounds
compared to a quota of 9,094 pounds. Therefore, the sport
halibut all-depth fishery from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. is now
closed. An announcement will be made prior to August 4 on
whether the sport halibut all-depth fishery will re-open this
year.
Halibut sport fishing is open only inside the
30-fathom curve from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. This fishery is
open seven days a week with a one halibut bag and possession
limit and an area catch limit of 12,324 pounds. The harvest
through May 28 is 474 pounds. The first halibut taken with a
length of 32 inches or greater must be kept.
Southern Oregon – California
The sport halibut fishery south of Humbug Mt.
opened on May 1 and will remain open through September 30, 2000.
This fishery is open seven days a week with a one halibut bag
and possession limit. The first halibut taken with a length of
32 inches or greater must be kept. The projected catch is 4,893
pounds.
-END-
Bruce M. Leaman, Director
Phone: (206) 634-1838
Fax: (206) 632-2983
Web: www.iphc.washington.edu |
