The IPHC today announced the following catch limits. Presentations from throughout the week can be viewed online at: http://www.iphc.int/
AREA 2012 Catch Limit Blue Line Recomm 2013 Catch Limit % of Change*
2A 989,000 710,000 990,000 +0.10%
2B 7,038,000 4,580,000 7,038,000 same
2C 2,624,000 2,970,000 2,970,000 +13%
3A 11,918,000 9,240,000 11,030,000 -7.5%
3B 5,070,000 2,730,000 4,290,000 -15.4%
4A 1,567,000 850,000 1,330,000 -15.2%
4B 1,869,000 620,000 1,450,000 -22.4%
4C 1,107,365 358,000 859,000 -22.4%
4D 1,107,365 358,000 859,000 -22.4%
4E 250,290 135,000 212,000 -15.29%
TOTAL 33,540,000 22,550,000 31,028,000 -7.5%
Area 2A includes sport, treaty & commercial combined in a catch sharing plan
Area 2B included sport & commercial combined in catch limits
Area 2C used GHL for the charter removals before setting the catch limit
Area 3A used GHL for the charter removals before setting the catch limit
* % of change is 2012 catch limits compared to 2013 catch limit
STARTING DATE:
The Commission set the starting date for March 23 to November 7, 2013. The Conference Board (CB) recommended a start date of March 16 after earlier dates failed to pass. The Processor Advisory Group (PAG) recommended a later starting date of March 30th and closing on October 31st. The PAG recommended the later opening date because there are high levels of frozen inventory from 2011 and 2012. This unsold inventory is not just from the processors but distributors and retailers.
AREA 2C/3A Sport Fishing Regulations:
Maintain the current regulations of the reverse slot limit allowing the retention of one fish, ≤45 inches or ≥68 inches in length, with head on in Area 2C. In addition, as in the past, if the halibut was filleted the entire carcass must be retained on board the vessel until all fillets are offloaded. Likewise the conference board recommends maintaining existing guided sport management measures in Area 3A (two fish bag limit, no size restriction; harvest allowed by skipper and crew).