West Coast halibut fishery used only 27% of quota in first period; second window opens July 7

The Area 2A non-Tribal directed commercial Pacific halibut fishery used just 27% of its season allocation in the first three-day window, leaving 191,372 pounds available when the second period opens July 7.

NOAA Fisheries released a July 1 bulletin reporting that the fishery landed 69,839 pounds net weight during the June 23-25 opener. The total season allocation is 261,211 pounds (118 mt) net weight. With 69,839 pounds (31.7 mt) taken in the first period, 191,372 pounds (86.8 mt), or 73% of the allocation, remains. The preliminary harvest estimate draws on commercial fisheries landings information and fish ticket data as of July 1.

The second fishing period opens July 7 at 8 a.m. and closes July 9 at 6 p.m. If a third period is needed to reach the full allocation, NOAA Fisheries says it is intended to open July 21.

The fishery is managed under a catch-sharing plan that allocates the Area 2A non-Tribal catch limit among commercial and recreational sectors, coordinated by NOAA Fisheries, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, state fish and wildlife departments in Washington, Oregon, and California, and 13 Treaty Tribes.

Per-vessel limits for the second period are set by vessel class in dressed weight, head-on with ice and slime. Vessels in classes A through C (up to 35 feet) are limited to 2,000 pounds. Classes D and E (36 to 45 feet) are limited to 3,400 pounds. Classes F and G (46 to 55 feet) are limited to 4,300 pounds. Class H vessels (56 feet and longer) are limited to 5,000 pounds. Vessels whose length includes tenths of feet are rounded up to the nearest whole foot for the purpose of determining fishing period limits.

NOAA Fisheries notes that the regulations listed in the bulletin are only a partial list of applicable regulations, and directs fishers to the 2026 non-Tribal directed commercial Pacific halibut fishery website, the West Coast Pacific halibut website, and Pacific halibut fishery regulations at 50 CFR Part 300 Subpart E. Fishers with questions can reach the West Coast Region Pacific halibut team at [email protected].