The Alaska Biological Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), is conducting an experiment on halibut using satellite pop-up tags. A total of 10 fish have been released to the wild with the tags in place. The IPHC and National Marine Fisheries Service will allow the retention and/or sale of legal-sized (≥32 inches) satellite tagged halibut without the fisher incurring a debit from their individual fishing quota accounts. The tagged fish, if legal-sized, must still be weighed and recorded on a Alaska Department of Fish and Game fish ticket. Through IPHC endorsement of this program, any sub-legal sized halibut can also be landed legally but not sold (IPHC 2001 Regulations, Section 20). The tagging of these fish was authorized under a permit issued by the IPHC on July 24, 2000. The USGS web site has additional information about this project:

http://www.absc.usgs.gov/research/Fisheries/Halibut/popup_tags.htm#Objectives