Despite a slower fishing season thus far, 2022 is still being described as a strong year for Pacific halibut.
As of mid-November, Pacific halibut landings had reached 25.5 million pounds, according to an International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) report. With fishing set to close on 7 December, only 77 percent of the annual catch limit of 33.18 million pounds had been caught as of 15 November.
The latest numbers published by the IPHC show that fishing is below pace from the previous three years – typically by week 47 of the fishing season an average of 92.7 percent of the limit had been caught.
Fishing was reported to be most productive in Canada's British Columbia (Regulatory Area 2B), where 90 percent of the 6.7-million-pound limit had been landed. In comparison, 92 percent of the limit had been caught by the same date in 2021.
In the U.S. state of Alaska, which includes Regulatory Areas 2C, 3, and 4, landings reached 82 percent of the fishery limit – a substantial drop from 89 percent in 2021.
Despite having the highest percentage of landings, Pacific Halibut Management Association of British Columbia Executive Manager Chris Sporer said fishermen in the Canadian province have reported greater difficulty finding fish recently.
“The pace has been lower compared to previous years,” he said. “It’s getting harder to find the fish, that’s what I’m hearing from the fishermen.”
Sporer said he wasn't sure what was causing the sparsity in halibut.
“You can’t pin it on one thing, but halibut fishing has definitely been slower,” he said.
Sporer said fishermen have reported greater populations of non-target species, such as yelloweye rockfish, in the current fishing season, which began in Mid-March.
“An abundance change in non-target species that we are allowed to keep can affect our ability to catch halibut,” he said.
Even with slower landings than previous years, he said market conditions have been positive for the fishery.
“The prices were strong this year. People got some good prices for their products,” Sporer said. “It fluctuates through the year, but the market is strong.”
IPHC’s annual meeting is scheduled to take place between 23 and 27 January, 2023, in Victoria B.C., where catch limits and stock assessments will be discussed, along with designation of the commercial fishing periods for 2023.
Photo courtesy of NOAA
