March 15, 2007                                                                                               Number 54 

COMPLETION AND SUBMISSION OF LOGBOOKS
FOR THE U.S. COMMERCIAL HALIBUT FISHERIES

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 commercially fishing for halibut, that has an overall length of 26 feet or greater, to maintain a logbook. The exception is that vessels incidentally retaining halibut during the Area 2A salmon troll fishery are not required to maintain a halibut logbook. Please complete your IPHC approved log as accurately, legibly, and completely as possible. Logs must be kept in the National Marine Fisheries Service IFQ daily fishing logbook, the Alaska hook-and-line logbook, Alaska Department Fish & Game 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 2007 season, we will have samplers in the ports listed below:

St. Paul                        Kodiak

Dutch Harbor               Seward                                               

Homer                          Sitka               

Juneau                          Bellingham

Petersburg                    Newport                     

Making your complete and legible log available to the port sampler is the most efficient way to provide 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 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.

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.