Watch your mouth

At its April meeting, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council has been considering, among other things, halibut and salmon bycatch in the trawl fisheries.

The council also has been grappling with another issue — unruly public comments posted to its website.

Aside from reflecting unfamiliarity with the council process, some comments have included profanity or threats, the council reports.

Here's one example Deckboss was able to snag off the council's website before it was scrubbed.

The council is now looking at reforms to its public comment policy. Ideas include delaying or screening comments before posting. Read more about it here.

More time to weigh in on halibut catch sharing

The National Marine Fisheries Service has extended the deadline for public comments on the proposed halibut catch sharing plan. The new deadline is Aug. 26.

The agency says it still aims to implement the catch sharing plan for the 2014 fishing season.

What people are saying about halibut catch limits

As previously noted here on Deckboss, the International Pacific Halibut Commission is meeting Jan. 24-27 in Anchorage to consider this slate of recommended catch limits for the 2012 season.

The IPHC invited public comments, and you can read them here.