Quota Share Commercial Fisheries Update

The 2011 quota share halibut fisheries opened on March 12. Preliminary catch estimates and numbers of landings made in the Alaskan IFQ and CDQ fisheries and in the British Columbian IVQ fishery during the 2011 Pacific halibut season are as follows.

Quota Share Commercial Fisheries Update

The 2011 quota share halibut fisheries opened on March 12. It is estimated that the following catches and numbers of landings were made in the Alaskan IFQ and CDQ fisheries and in the British Columbian IVQ fishery through October 13, 2011.

2011 IPHC INTERIM MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT

The International Pacific Halibut Commission’s 2011 Interim Meeting will be held in Seattle, Washington, on November 30 and December 1 at the offices of the IPHC (2320 W. Commodore Way, Suite 300, Seattle, WA). For those attending the Interim Meeting, rooms are available at $139 per night at the Edgewater Hotel (www.edgewaterhotel.com). Please identify yourself as attending the ‘IPHC Interim Meeting’. For reservations, please contact Tracy Torre by phone at (206) 269-4568 or via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call the general reservations number, (800) 624-0670, during regular business hours and ask for “in-house reservations”.

On Wednesday, November 30th at 1:00 P.M. (PST), there will be a webcast briefing on the stock assessment and staff’s preliminary recommended catch limits for 2012. The webcast is open to the public. However, in-person attendance at the meeting is still limited to invited agency personnel. Commissioners from each government determine attendance at the Administrative Session meeting (November 30 session and research discussions on December 1 only) and should be contacted for information and attendance requests.

There will be a public webcast presentation on 2011 research projects and proposed projects for the future on Thursday, December 1, from 9:00 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. (PST). From 10:45 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. (PST), the Commissioners and Commission staff will meet in private to discuss administrative and financial issues internal to the Commission. This portion of the meeting is for administrative purposes only, and is not open to the general public or agency personnel. Results from the meeting, including staff assessment of the fishery and catch limit recommendations, will be released in a news release after the Interim Meeting. Registration for the two webcasts as well as other Interim Meeting information can be found at: http://www.iphc.int/meetings-and-events.html

The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), based in Seattle, WA, USA seeks an outstanding individual to serve as the Commission’s Assistant Director. Reporting to the Commission’s Executive Director, the Assistant Director is primarily responsible for direction of the Commission’s financial and administrative functions including budget preparations, financial audits, investments, grants and contracts, meeting arrangements, and human resource management functions. In addition, the Assistant Director assists the Executive Director in preparation of standard operating procedures, policies, science, and strategic plans to achieve the Commission’s goals and objectives; liaises with government agencies, academic, international and interagency entities, Native American and Canadian First Nations agencies, and private groups whose activities affect the affairs of the Commission; promotes and facilitates cooperation among federal, provincial, state, and native agencies dealing with fisheries and environmental quality; facilitates integrated and mutually beneficial programs in keeping with Commission goals and objectives and promotes productive partnerships and working arrangements; and interacts with science staff, contractors, boards, committees, agents, agencies, and sister commissions to keep current and insure that the Commission is kept apprised of programs, progress, needs, and problems which may affect Commission interests.

The International Pacific Halibut Commission is a bilateral intergovernmental organization of the United States and Canada, responsible for research and management of Pacific halibut stocks throughout its range in the northeast Pacific Ocean.

Essential Qualifications

• University graduation in relevant field
• At least ten years experience in managing large, multi-million dollar programs
• At least ten years experience in direction and supervision of personnel

Rated Qualifications

• Graduate degrees in relevant field
• Experience in financial management and knowledge of accounting standards
• Experience in management of scientific programs in natural resource management
• Experience in contract management
• Proven and effective communication skills, including interacting with the public
• Proven and effective problem solving abilities

The Commission will consider applicants who are residents of the USA or Canada. A background check is a condition of employment. Interested applicants should mail a résumé with three references to Dr. Bruce M. Leaman, IPHC Executive Director at 2320 West Commodore Way Suite 300, Seattle WA 98199-1287; fax to ((206) 632-2983); or by email at ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). The position is classified similar to U.S. government GS-14 positions. The application deadline is Sept. 30, 2011. Candidates will be selected for interview based on meeting essential qualifications and additional demonstrated experience. For additional information please contact the Commission’s Executive Assistant, Laura Black at (206) 634-1838 ext. 7661, or e-mail.

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$500 REWARD for tags from double-tagged halibut

The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) has double-tagged halibut in Regulatory Areas 3A and 2C with a combination of external electronic “backpack tags” and electronic internal “gut tags”. The IPHC is asking harvesters to look for tagged halibut, bearing in mind that each fish should carry two tags. The backpack is a black plastic cylinder that measures ~3” (7.6 cm) long by ½” (1.2 cm) in diameter, and is attached to the dark side of the fish, below the dorsal fin, using a green-coated tagging wire, with a white backing plate that rests on the underside of the fish. Gut tags are surgically implanted in the gut cavity, but have a translucent green stalk that protrudes from the belly on the fish’s dark side (see picture below). The stalk is made of Teflon, and contains sensors that record ambient light levels. Note that, over time, gut tags can become “encapsulated” by the intestines, making them difficult to find without the stalk. Please inform your crew to look for stalks on the dark side of the fish before gutting, to avoid the possibility of throwing $500 overboard!

A total of 30 fish, ranging from 43-60 in. (110-152 cm) forklength, have been tagged. EACH tag will yield a reward of $500, so keep and return both tags. Note that four of the fish tagged on the Ommaney Ground bear only the external tag. In addition, fishers who hold IFQ/IVQ should be aware that the weight of these tagged fish should NOT be deducted from the fisher’s halibut IFQ/IVQ. Fishers possessing halibut IFQ/IVQ may sell these fish without quota penalty, if captured during commercial halibut fishing and in compliance with all other commercial fishing regulations. Fishers that do not possess halibut IFQ/IVQ are encouraged to retain these fish and return them to the IPHC for the tag reward (see procedure below).

The purpose of the study is to examine whether geomagnetism can be used as a means of tracking halibut migrations. The tags are capable of recording the local magnetic field in ways that can be converted into location estimates, based on total field strength and magnetic declination angle, in combination with depth and light data.

When you catch a tagged halibut:

1. Record the date, capture location, sex, and the fork-length of the fish.
2. Ideally, otoliths (earbones) from the fish should be removed in order to determine its age. If the fish is being landed at a port staffed by an IPHC port sampler, please present the fish to the port sampler during offload so that the otoliths can be removed. The IPHC has port samplers at the following ports during the commercial halibut fishing season: Saint Paul, Dutch Harbor, Kodiak, Homer, Seward, Juneau, Sitka, and Petersburg, AK; Prince Rupert, Port Hardy, and Vancouver, BC; Bellingham, WA; Newport, OR.
3. If you do not possess halibut IFQ: Do not remove the tag(s) from the fish until after it has been landed and reported to IPHC. Leave the tag(s) implanted/attached to the fish and report the capture at time of landing to IPHC at (206) 634-1838 or to an IPHC port sampler (staffed ports: Saint Paul, Dutch Harbor, Kodiak, Homer, Seward, Juneau, Sitka, Petersburg, Prince Rupert, Port Hardy, Vancouver, Bellingham, Newport).
4. If you possess halibut IFQ: Gut tags can be removed when gutting the fish. Backpack tags can be removed by cutting the attachment wires and removing the tag and its backing plate.
5. Retain the tag(s) and contact the IPHC at (206) 634-1838. Or, turn in the tag(s) and information (and fish, if possible) to an IPHC Port Sampler (staffed ports: Saint Paul, Dutch Harbor, Kodiak, Homer, Seward, Juneau, Sitka, Petersburg, Prince Rupert, Port Hardy, Vancouver, Bellingham, Newport).

For further information, please contact Dr. Tim Loher at (206) 552-7674, or via email.

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Bruce M. Leaman
Executive Director
Phone: (206) 634-1838
Fax: (206) 632-2983

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