21 percent cut for halibut suggested

The staff of the International Pacific Halibut Commission this week recommended catch limits for the 2014 season.

As you can see from the chart below, we appear to face another year of general decline.

The commission will set final limits at its annual meeting Jan. 13-17 in Seattle.

Numbers are expressed in millions of pounds.

Regulatory area	2013 catch limits	2014 staff advice	% change
2A	0.99	0.72	-27
2B	7.04	4.98	-29
2C	2.97	4.16	+40
3A	11.03	9.43	-15
3B	4.29	2.84	-34
4A	1.33	0.85	-36
4B	1.45	0.82	-43
4CDE	1.93	0.64	-67
TOTAL	31.03	24.45	-21

Click here for a map of IPHC regulatory areas.

19 percent cut recommended for halibut fishery

The scientific staff of the International Pacific Halibut Commission today made recommendations on catch limits for the 2012 season.

The commission itself will consider the recommendations at its Jan. 24-27 annual meeting in Anchorage.

Here are the numbers, expressed in millions of pounds.

Regulatory area	2011 catch limits	2012 staff advice	% change
2A	0.91	0.99	+9
2B	7.65	6.63	-13
2C	2.33	2.62	+12
3A	14.36	11.92	-17
3B	7.51	5.07	-32
4A	2.41	1.57	-35
4B	2.18	1.87	-14
4CDE	3.72	2.47	-34
TOTAL	41.07	33.14	-19