NOAA Announces New Halibut Regulations

NOAA Fisheries Service says halibut numbers in Southeast Alaska are decreasing and hopes new rules will help replenish halibut stock.

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By KTVA CBS 11
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Story Created: Mar 12, 2011 at 10:01 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Mar 13, 2011 at 6:06 PM AKDT

While commercial fishermen are starting up their engines today, charter fleets and sports fishermen will find new limits for catching pacific halibut in Southeast Alaska.

NOAA Fisheries Service announced new regulations after the International Pacific Halibut Commission issued concern for the Alaska halibut stock.

It says lower growth rates and higher target rates are decreasing halibut numbers in Southeast Alaska.

Charter fleets and sports fisherman will continue to be limited to the one fish per-person per-day rule, and they won’t be able to catch a halibut bigger than 37 inches. 

NOAA says charter fleets are constantly exceeding their harvest limit each year, so they hope the new rules will help rebuild the halibut stock for next season.

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eastfork said on Wednesday, Mar 16 at 4:03 PM

Let's change our Halibut Derbies to help protect the future of the fishery. The derbies need to go away from targeting the taking of the largest Halibut.

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TEXAN said on Thursday, Oct 6 at 5:53 PM

Wow! What a victory for the commercial fishermen! They are allowed to continue to bring in the haul unabated, while the rest of us choke on it. All the while knowing the quantity of Halibut pulled out of these waters via the commercial business is the real step to a longterm sustained population. Obviously feeding the rest of the world is more important to NOAA than the livelihood of us Alaskans.

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