Bits and pieces

• The latest issue of The Wheel Watch, newsletter of the Seattle-based Fishing Vessel Owners' Association, reports the following: "HOT, HOT, HOT is the halibut market!" Prices are at $8.50 to more than $9 a pound in Seward, compared to around $6.50 a pound last year. Prices in Dutch Harbor are $6.50 to $6.75.

• The Wheel Watch further reports the North Pacific Fishery Management Council will consider changing the legal age to own individual fishing quotas from 18 years old to 16. "This has been an issue as first-generation holders pass and leave their QS (quota share) to children or grandchildren," the newsletter says.

• A prominent voice on the North Pacific Council has retired. Bill Tweit was the Washington state representative on the council for 20 years, and was vice chair. His replacement is Nate Pamplin, another Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife official.

Canadian competition

The Wheel Watch, a newsletter of the Seattle-based Fishing Vessel Owners' Association, offers this interesting note:

Something of concern for halibut is that the Canadian Maritime communities will produce 12 to 15 million pounds next year. This begins to rival Alaska landings which are now about 17 million lbs. Harvest limits in Alaska will all likely be reduced in 2025.

More COVID relief for halibut, sablefish fleet?

Here's a letter asking for emergency action to "allow those individuals that have IFQ in their own names to be exempt from being on a vessel when their quota is being fished."

Restless in Seattle

Halibut vessel owners and the crewmen's union fired off this joint letter calling for action to reduce bycatch.

Allow retention of smaller halibut, FVOA says

The Seattle-based Fishing Vessel Owners' Association has submitted an intriguing proposal to reduce the minimum size requirement for commercially caught halibut from 32 inches to 30 inches.

The proposal will be up for consideration at the Jan. 26-30 meeting of the International Pacific Halibut Commission.

FVOA is a major player in Alaska's halibut fishery, representing a large number of commercial longliners. Its manager, Bob Alverson, is one of the three U.S. members on the halibut commission.

The FVOA proposal is signed by the group's president, Per Odegaard.

The proposal explains that retaining more small halibut, rather than releasing them, could substantially reduce handling and "wastage" in the fishery.

FVOA is asking the commission to review the proposal for possible implementation in 2015.

Alaska's 'escalating campaign'

Back in September, we heard from interests who believe Alaska is using its majority on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to the detriment of Washington and Oregon industry players.

Now comes another voice urging greater Washington and Oregon representation on the council to balance out Alaska's advantage.

In this memo to Washington's congressional delegation, Bob Alverson of the Seattle-based Fishing Vessel Owners' Association says ... well, you really should read it.

Sure to draw an "Amen!" from Washington and Oregon folks, and raise the hackles of Alaskans.

Hot year for halibut

Alaska's halibut fishery closes at noon Nov. 15, and longliners already have caught 97 percent of the 40.3 million pounds of individual fishing quotas issued when the season opened back on March 6.

So how's it gone this year in terms of prices?

In a word, hot.

The Seattle-based Fishing Vessel Owners' Association, in the November issue of its newsletter "The Wheel Watch," reports that prices "have reached record highs even with the North American recession."

Association boats landing halibut recently in Seward received $6.40 per pound for the biggest and most valuable fish — those weighing 40 pounds or more. Smaller fish brought between $5.90 and $6.15.

Relatively low inventories plus the prospect of further quota cuts in 2011 likely will buoy the value of fish in cold storage, the newsletter says.

The good news, however, comes with the worry that halibut is pricing itself out of the market.

"There have been several major grocery stores that have taken halibut out of their stores this fall due to the high prices," the newsletter says. Retail prices in Seattle are reported at $18 a pound and up.