Alaskan Pacific Halibut Fishing

By:Maxwell Scroggins

Anica Miller

Overview

How is this fish collected? Halibut information What is the market for this fish like? What is the impact of this fishing on the

ecosystem?

Fishing Method Halibut is fished from the

ocean with the long line method.

In the long line method of fishing a line with thousands of baited hooks is lowered into the water and pulled up later with fish attached.

The fishery is managed by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC)

Fishing Location Halibut is located up the west

coast from Northern California up to the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea

Near 100% of all halibut caught in the U.S. Is Pacific Halibut from the Gulf of Alaska

The Pacific Halibut Life Span: Males and Females

can live to be quite old, the oldest halibut recorded was 55 years old.

Size: Halibut can grow up to 500 lbs. and up to 9 ft. in length.

Diet: Adult halibut eat other fish such as: sablefish, cod, sculpins, and occasionally smaller halibut

Halibut are a flatfish with both eyes on the dorsal side of the body

Market Both Pacific and Atlantic halibut

are marketed as “Halibut”

One of the most valuable fish due to large size and high price.

The halibut is exported as well as sold to fish markets and other distributers for use in restaurants and home cooking.

The U.S. and Canada are the leading suppliers in the halibut market.

Impact on Marine Ecosystem Longline fishing, while less

destructive than other methods of fishing, still has a bycatch.

Sea birds are the most vulnerable, eating bait off of hooks when lines are being set then being dragged under water and drowned.

Sea turtles and sharks also bite hooks and get trapped.

Pacific Halibut is not being overfished and populations are strong.

Restrictions and Regulations by NMFS

In 1995 the NPFMC (North Pacific Fishery Management Council) and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) implemented a quota system for Alaska, causing the fishing season to be extended from what was only a few days to 8 months or more. This resulted in lower bycatch and less fisherman deaths.

For recreational fishermen there is a total allowable catch limit daily and closed seasons.

Sources http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/fishwatch/species/pacific_halibut.htm

http://www.duke.edu/web/nicholas/bio217/durkee-eyler-franken/bycatch.html

http://www.oceansatlas.org/world_fisheries_and_aquaculture/html/issues/ecosys/selectgear/incidental_catch.htm

http://www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/

http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/fish/halibut.php