Halibut season extended — in Canada

The International Pacific Halibut Commission has approved an extension of the commercial season in British Columbia (Area 2B) by three weeks, until noon local time Dec. 7.

The original closure date of Nov. 15 still applies in all other areas.

Canadian interests had proposed an even longer halibut season extension to Feb. 20, 2021.

The Canadians sought the extension "in order to increase market opportunities and alleviate the impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis," according to this IPHC memo.

Ice forces another extension of snow crab season

The state is again extending the snow crab season due to persistent sea ice limiting the fleet's access to fishing grounds.

The season now will be open through June 15, says this press release from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

The industry had a quota of 88.9 million pounds, and 23 percent of this remains unharvested, the department says.

Record sea ice forces snow crab extension

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is extending the Bering Sea snow crab season due to ice cover that's prevented the fleet from accessing the fishing grounds.

Here's the press release.