January 8, 2007

IPHC FISH SALES NOTICE – FEBRUARY 2007

The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) will be conducting setline research in British Columbia, the central Gulf of Alaska, and the Bering Sea in February 2007 and will be selling halibut caught during the operations to offset costs associated with conducting the research programs.  This news release is intended to notify the industry of IPHC sales plans and seeks buyers interested in the following sales.

As this is research fishing, we cannot guarantee the poundage to be landed.  Offload dates and poundage may vary depending on fishing activities, weather, and necessary permitting for bycatch retention (obtained by IPHC).  We are notifying possible buyers of this offload to ensure we have buyers in place to handle the fish in the listed ports. 

In awarding the sale, the Commission will consider: (1) price; (2) the number of years buyers have been buying and marketing halibut; (3) how fish are graded at the dock including the determination of No. 2 halibut and chalky fish; and (4) promptness in settlements following deliveries. Obtaining a fair market price will be a primary consideration in awarding the fish sale, but the Commission may award the sale to buyers with slightly lower prices when the factors listed above are considered.            

All buyers interested in purchasing the above-mentioned IPHC research fish should send a letter, fax, or e-mail to Erica Anderson at the Commission by 12:00 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time) on Wednesday, January 31, 2007 to express interest in the sale.  All respondents will be notified of the hail weights and actual offload date several days prior to each landing and can place a bid on the fish at that time.  The response letter should provide general contact information for your company as well as any other details applicable to this sale.  For further information, please call (206) 634-1838, and contact Erica Anderson (ext. 202) or Claude Dykstra (ext. 213).       

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