March 21, 2006                                                                                                 Number 51

COMPLETION AND SUBMISSION OF HALIBUT LOGBOOKS

The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) has collected logbook information since the 1930s. The catch per unit effort, gear, and location information from the logbook is essential for the annual stock assessment and aids in determining the condition of the halibut resource. We have been successful in managing the halibut resource primarily because of cooperation from participating harvesters.

The information needed for our analysis is indicated on the sample log sheet. IPHC regulations require the operators of any vessel fishing for halibut, that has an overall length of 26 feet or greater, maintain a logbook. Please complete your IPHC approved log as accurately, legibly and completely as possible. Logs must be kept in the NMFS IFQ daily fishing logbook, the Alaska hook-and-line logbook, ADF&G longline-pot logbook, or the logbooks issued by the IPHC. Written logs, with all the elements listed in the example, provide us with the best possible information. For the 2006 season, we will have samplers in the ports listed below:

Adak                            St. Paul                       
Dutch Harbor               Kodiak                        
Homer                          Seward                                   
Juneau                          Sitka
Petersburg                    Bellingham                   

Making your complete and legible log available to the port sampler is the most efficient way to provide complete and accurate data for inclusion in the stock assessment. We assure you that all detailed trip information is kept strictly confidential. Working with the port samplers allows us to clarify questions we may have regarding the details of the log information. It also allows harvesters to provide direct feedback to the Commission and an opportunity to have any questions answered. If you need a new logbook, one can be obtained from any port sampler or from the Seattle Office. At the end of the fishing season, November 15, 2006, if an IPHC port sampler has not already collected logbook information from some or all trips, please tear out the IPHC copy from your logbook or make a copy of the information and send it to the Seattle office, marking it with Attn: Lara Hutton .

Please refer to the next page for an example of a log sheet and the information we need for stock assessment. Please take care to print legibly and complete all required elements.