Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands/Gulf of Alaska Halibut Bycatch
The Pacific halibut longline fishery was one of the first fully domestic fisheries to become established off Alaska. As the groundfish fisheries developed, regulations were implemented to limit bycatch of halibut, so as to minimize impacts on the domestic halibut fisheries. Interception of juvenile halibut (~30 cm and greater) often occurs in trawl fisheries targeting other groundfish species (such as rock sole, pollock, yellowfin sole, and Pacific cod). Incidental catch of halibut also occurs in groundfish hook and line and pot fisheries. Regulations require that all halibut caught incidentally must be discarded, regardless of whether the fish is living or dead.
Documents and Council Motions
2012
- GOA PSC motion; 2012 Example Tables 6/12
- GOA Comprehensive Bycatch motion 6/12
- Comprehensive GOA Halibut PSC discussion paper 6/12
- BSAI Halibut PSC discussion paper 6/12
- GOA Halibut PSC EA/RIR/IRFA; Appendices; Updated Executive Summary, Supplemental; public comments 6/12
- GOA Halibut PSC 1/12; GOA Halibut PSC Motion 2/12
2011
- Individual Bycatch Allowances disucssion paper 10/11
- GOA Halibut PSC Limit Action Plan 10/11
- GOA Halibut PSC EA/RIR, Executive Summary 9/11
- IPHC Halibut Bycatch report 3/11
2010
- GOA Halibut PSC Limit Addendum to discussion paper 12/10
- GOA Halibut PSC Limit discussion paper 6/10
- Discussion paper: Modifying Halibut PSC Limits in Groundfish Fisheries 2/10
2008
- Electronic Monitoring of Halibut Discards in GOA Rockfish Fishery 5/08