IPHC Pushes 7.3 Percent Halibut Quota Cut

The International Pacific Halibut Commission yesterday recommended a 7.3 percent cut in the 2008 halibut quota, bringing the total allowable catch to 60.4 million pounds. Last year’s quota was 65.1 million pounds.

The announcement was made at the commission’s annual meeting in Portland, Ore. In December, the commission recommended a 10 percent cut in the halibut quota, to 59.24 million pounds. The regulations for the 2008 halibut fishery will become official once approved by the Canadian and U.S. governments.

According to the IPHC, 62.4 million pounds were harvested in Alaska and Washington last year. U.S. landings for Pacific halibut have fallen each of the past four years, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service — 79.1 million pounds in 2004, 76.2 million pounds in 2005 and 71.3 million pounds in 2006.