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IPHC keeps Area 2A catch at 1.65 million lb; council sets sablefish halibut ratio and seeks public review on salmon troll limits
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Summary
The International Pacific Halibut Commission kept the Area 2A allocation at 1,650,000 pounds for 2025. The Pacific Fishery Management Council set a 75‑lb per 1,000‑lb plus two trip limit for incidental halibut in the primary sablefish fixed‑gear fishery and approved a package of salmon‑troll alternatives for public review.
The council received the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) report and related U.S. delegation updates and took two halibut actions on March 6: it set a final incidental halibut landing ratio for the 2025 primary sablefish fixed‑gear fishery north of Point Chehalis, Washington, and it approved a package of alternatives for public review on salmon‑troll incidental halibut limits.
IPHC outcomes: The IPHC adopted coast‑wide mortality limits that reduced the overall TCEY by about 15.8 percent compared with 2024, reflecting low stock indicators coastwide. Area 2A’s TCEY of 1,650,000 pounds was held at the same level as 2024. IPHC staff reported survey declines in several metrics and highlighted continued concern about poor recruitment in recent cohorts.
Council decisions: - Sablefish fixed‑gear fishery (north of Point Chehalis): The Groundfish Management Team and Groundfish Advisory Subpanel recommended a precautionary incidental halibut limit given an increase in the sablefish allocation and the possibility that a small number of vessels could take a disproportionate share of halibut. The council adopted a final limit of 75 pounds of Pacific halibut (dressed) per 1,000 pounds of sablefish (dressed) plus two additional halibut per trip. The motion was made by Council Member Corey Ridings and passed unanimously. - Salmon troll incidental limits: The Salmon Advisory Subpanel proposed a set of alternatives for the period beginning May 16 through the end of the 2025 salmon troll fishery; the council adopted those alternatives for public review, and it later added a fourth alternative (a 25‑fish per trip cap) to increase the scope of public comment. The alternatives are intended to preserve incidental retention as an incidental opportunity, to avoid encouraging directed halibut harvest while giving flexibility if salmon opportunity is strong in 2025.
Why this matters: Area 2A accounts for a small share of total halibut mortality because the stock’s center of abundance is farther north, and IPHC staff told the council that reducing fishing in Area 2A would have limited coast‑wide conservation benefit. The council’s sablefish decision is intended to distribute halibut opportunity across more vessels and avoid an early closure of the primary sablefish fishery should a few vessels take a large share of incidentally encountered halibut.
Next steps: The salmon‑troll alternatives will be released for public review. State and NOAA staff will monitor landings and in‑season indicators; the council may act in season if landings approach the Area 2A allocation.
