International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) scientists on Thursday recommended a 2011 halibut quota of 41.02 million pounds, after presenting the results of this year’s stock assessment.
If approved at IPHC’s annual meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, from 25 to 28 January, the 2011 quota would be down 19 percent from the 2010 quota.
The most significant changes would occur in Areas 2C (southeastern Alaska) and Area 3 (central and southwestern Alaska). The quota in Area 2C would drop to 2.33 million pounds from 4.4 million pounds in 2010 and in Area 3 would fall to 22.9 million pounds from nearly 30 million pounds in 2010.
The Pacific halibut fishery, which run from northern California through Alaska, usually opens on 1 March and closes on 15 November.
