Despite encouraging signs that Pacific halibut stocks are stabilizing after a downward spiral lasting nearly two decades, catches could decrease slightly in most regions again next year. That's if fishery managers accept the catch recommendations of scientists who study halibut, which they don't always do.
At the International Pacific Halibut Commission meeting last week in Seattle, a total 2016 catch of 26.6 million pounds was recommended for the West Coast, British Columbia and Alaska. That's down 9 percent from this year.
For Alaska, which always gets the lion's share of that harvest, the total take would be 20.3 million pounds, a decrease of less than 1 million pounds. Halibut catches for all but two Alaska regions would drop slightly, with the western Gulf of Alaska area 3B and the Bering Sea area 4CDE gaining increases — a jump of more than 11 percent in the Bering Sea.
Area by area
Here are the 2016 recommended catch limits for the six Alaska regions where halibut is harvested, with 2015 catches in parentheses:
• Area 2C (Southeast): 4.63 million pounds (4.65)
• Area 3A (central Gulf of Alaska): 9.37 million pounds (10.1)
• Area 3B (western Gulf of Alaska): 2.67 million pounds, (2.65)
• Area 4A (Alaska Peninsula): 1.39 million pounds (1.3)
• Area 4B (Aleutians): 910,000 pounds (1.14)
• Area 4CDE (Bering Sea): 1.44 million pounds (1.29)
There are some encouraging signs for the Pacific halibut stocks, according to IPHC staff biologist Ian Stewart.
"Both the data and the models indicate the stock is relatively stable, and we are seeing some positive trends in … the catch rate," Stewart said in his Seattle presentation.
Halibut weights appear to be getting heftier after decades of slow growth.
The annual 2015 coastwide survey showed 'weights per unit of effort' (more simply, per hook) were 5 percent higher than values observed in 2014. That appears to be borne out by fishermen's logbooks – preliminary results indicate their per hook weights increased 11 percent.
Also, halibut bycatch by Bering Sea trawlers and freezer longliners dropped this year by more than 1 million pounds, but still approaches 8 million pounds in the region that abuts the Pribilof Islands.
Final decisions on halibut catches, season length, and regulation changes will be made by the commission at its annual meeting Jan. 25-29 in Juneau.
Five regulation changes are proposed for consideration at the January meeting. The Fishing Vessel Owners' Association is requesting the halibut size limit be reduced from 32 inches to 30 inches. Based on reports from the 2013 fishery observer program in the Gulf of Alaska, the association said "the directed halibut fleet is releasing 8.7 million pounds of undersized halibut (less than 32 inches). New reports suggest that with a 2-inch reduction, the fleet could reduce handling by 58 percent, and reduce wastage from 1.35 million pounds to 0.58 million pounds."
Another proposal by Kodiak fisherman K.C. Dochtermann recommends a maximum size limit of 60 inches for all halibut caught by commercial and sport users. That's about 110 pounds, according to one length-weight chart. (www.piscatorialpursuits.com/halibutcharts.htm )
"An established maximum size limit would serve the objective of protecting large halibut that are the spawning biomass," Dochtermann wrote, adding the change should be implemented for a five-to-10-year test period to monitor its effectiveness.
In other halibut news, Jeff Kauffman, a commercial fisherman from Wasilla, was chosen for one of the six commission seats that are split between Americans and Canadians. Kauffman, whose selection drew positive responses from industry, replaces Don Lane of Homer, who will remain as an alternate.
Aging fishermen and boats
Alaskans sometimes talk about the "aging of the fleet," because the average of commercial fisherman is now 47, but the adage also applies to Alaska boats.
A state Department of Commerce report (www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/WelcometoourNewWebsite.aspx ) that aims to identify services needed by the fleet that could be done in-state instead of Outside, says roughly 9,400 boats more than 28 feet in length make up Alaska's maritime fleet. Of those, 69 percent are fishing or processing boats, and 15 percent are recreational. Freight carriers, sightseeing and oil-and-gas vessels make up the rest.
More than 90 percent of the Alaska fishing fleet is less than 100 feet long; 74 percent are under 50 feet. Most of the boats were built between 1970 and 1989; nearly 1,000 are more than 50 years old.
Older boats will soon be required to comply with new safety requirements as part of the 2010 U.S. Coast Guard Authorization Act.
"The Alternate Compliance Safety Program is aimed at vessels that are 25 years old by 2020, greater than 50 feet in length, and operating beyond 3 nautical miles. This is a new program," said Troy Rentz, alternate safety compliance coordinator for the Coast Guard's 13th District.
"Requirements won't become mandatory until Jan. 1 of 2020 for most vessels," he added.
Coming up faster: By Feb. 16, a new law will require survival crafts keep all parts of the body out of the water, meaning floats and other buoyant apparatus will no longer be legal. The intent is to prevent hypothermia and effects of cold water that lead to drowning, but "there may be some exceptions for unique operating environments," Rentz said.
Gunnar Knapp retires
Gunnar Knapp, one of the most recognized names in Alaska's salmon industry, will retire from the University of Alaska at the end of the academic year next June. Along with his work as a fisheries economist, Knapp directs the University's Institute of Social and Economic Research.
In a letter to colleagues, Knapp said: "I have worked at ISER for 35 years — my entire career. I feel immensely lucky at the opportunities I have had to work with so many talented and dedicated colleagues, to study so many fascinating and important issues, and to spend the final three years of my career as director. I can't imagine a more interesting and rewarding career than studying and teaching about Alaska's resources, economy and society."
His retirement is a long-planned decision, he said, which will give him more time to focus on other interests. He will continue research work at ISER on a part-time basis, focusing on Alaska's fiscal challenges, and his decades-long research on Alaska's salmon industry and markets. That includes finishing his book, "The Economics of Fish," and delving into other writing and consulting projects.
"Most importantly, I need to spend more time with my family," Knapp said. "Before I get too much older and slower, I want to do a lot more skiing, biking, hiking and enjoying the beauty of Alaska which so entranced me when I first came here. And I want to play a lot more music."
Laine Welch is a commercial fishing columnist based in Kodiak.