NMFS/NWR - Halibut Management

Pacific halibut is managed by the United States and Canada in a bilateral commission known as the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) (visit the IPHC website for more information). Each year, the IPHC sets total allowable catch levels for halibut that will be caught in the U.S. and Canadian Exclusive Economic Zones in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. The IPHC refers to U.S. waters off the states of Washington, Oregon, and California collectively as "Area 2A." Regulations for Area 2A are set in place by the National Marine Fisheries Service's Northwest Regional Office. Halibut in Area 2A is divided between Tribal and non-Tribal fisheries, between commercial and recreational fisheries, and between recreational fisheries in different states. The Pacific Fishery Management Council describes this halibut catch division each year in a Catch Sharing Plan (pdf format¹) (this link leads to a non-NOAA Fisheries web site).

Inseason Changes to Oregon's Sport Halibut Fishery in the Central Coast Subarea
(pdf format; 56k)¹; (html format 11k)
Final Rule for 2004 Changes to the Area 2A Halibut Catch Sharing Plan and Management Measures
(pdf format; 42k)¹; (html format 57k)
Proposed Rule for 2004 Changes to the Area 2A Halibut Catch Sharing Plan and Management Measures
(pdf format; 72k)¹; (html format 75k)
Regulatory Impact Review and Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for the Area 2A Catch Sharing Plan in 2004
(pdf format; 145k)¹
Summary of Area 2A Pacific Halibut Allocations and Catch through 2003 (aka: Human Environment section)
(pdf format; 221k)¹

U.S. Pacific halibut management off Alaska: Alaska Regional Office
Canadian Pacific halibut management (Note: This link leads to a non-U.S. government site.): Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Regional Office

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