IPHC will address minimum halibut size requirement at upcoming meeting (Fish Radio)
This is Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch – Updates on the upcoming halibut commission meeting. More after this
The stage is set for some tension when halibut managers and stakeholders gather later this month in Vancouver. At its annual meeting, the International Pacific Halibut Commission will set catch limits, season start and end dates and take up various regulation proposals.
Only one catch limit comment was submitted by the December 31 deadline. To reduce handling and wastage in the fishery, the Seattle-based Fishing Vessel Owners' Association is asking the IPHC to reduce the minimum size requirement for commercially caught halibut from 32 to 30 inches. The group claims that, based on observer data, a two inch size reduction could reduce handling by 58% and wastages from 1.35 million pounds to .58 million pounds...
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