It is estimated that the following catches and numbers of landings were made in the British Columbia IVQ fishery through May 14, 2003 and in the Alaskan IFQ and CDQ fisheries through May 15, 2003.

The Alaskan catch represents 29% of the catch limit. From March 15 to May 17, 2002, 16.5 million pounds, or 27% of the 2002 catch limit, were landed in the Alaskan fishery. When comparing the actual length of the fishing period, 22.4 million pounds, or 36% of the 2002 catch limit, were landed after ten weeks (May 31) in 2002.

The British Columbia catch represents 35% of the 2003 catch limit. From March 15 to May 15, 2002, 4.3 million pounds, or 37% of the catch limit, were landed from Area 2B (British Columbia). Comparing the length of the fishing period, 4.9 million pounds, or 42% of the Area 2B allocation, were landed in Area 2B after ten weeks (May 31) in 2002.

The Metlakatla Indian community has been authorized by the United States Government to conduct a commercial halibut fishery within the Annette Island Reserve. One 48-hour fishing period occurred between May 2 and May 4, with a total catch of 2,177 pounds. The Metlakatla Indian Community and the Bureau of Indian Affairs will announce future halibut openings.

Preliminary estimates through May 11 for the north Washington coast sport halibut fishery (Sekiu River to the Queets River) indicate that the harvest will approach the 82,019 pound early-season quota by May 17. Catch rates have been good, resulting in an earlier closure than in recent years. Therefore, the north Washington coast sport halibut fishery will close at 11:59 PM on Saturday, May 17, 2003. On Wednesday, May 21, halibut managers will meet to assess the previous week’s catch and determine if additional fishing time could be granted. Otherwise, the next scheduled opening for the north Washington coast will begin on June 18, 2003.

Contact information for NOAA Office of Enforcement was misprinted on IPHC Information Bulletin No. 46. Corrected text should read:

As referenced in Section 15 of the 2003 IPHC regulations, vessels fishing for halibut in Area 4 are required to clear before fishing and before unloading for each trip, with the exception of local Bering Sea fishers or vessels with an operating Vessel Monitoring System (VMS). Full details on the VMS requirements are available on the NOAA Office for Law Enforcement website (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ole/Alaska/) or by phone at (907) 586-7225.