Active and Passive Management of the Recreational Fishery for Pacific Halibut off the U.S. West Coast

Abstract

Since the 1970s, the recreational fishery for Pacific halibut Hippoglossus stenolepis off the West Coast of the United States (Washington, Oregon, and California) has grown substantially, thereby reducing the amount of halibut available to other users. A catch sharing plan (CSP) was developed in 1988 to allocate the available yield among recreational fishers, commercial fishers, and treaty Indian tribes. The CSP defines the share of the total available catch allocated to each group and further subdivisions within the groups. The most complex allocation is that for the recreational fishery, which is managed by the agencies of the three coastal states, the federal fisheries agency, and an international commission that has overall responsibility for the preservation of the species. Management tools for the recreational fishery include seasons, bag limits, closed areas, vessel licensing and registration, minimum length limits, and various levels of catch monitoring. Although the recreational fishery has been managed conservatively, catches often exceed catch limits, though not substantially. Further refinements to management will probably need to pursue new directions, as current management practices are performing as well as can be expected.

Notes

¹ United States v. Washington, 384 F. Supp. 312 (W.D.Wash. 1974), 520 F. 2d 676 (9th Cir. 1975), 459 F. Supp. 1020, 573 F. 2d 1123 (9th Cir. 1978), substantially affirmed sub nom. Washington v. Washington Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessel Association, 443 U.S. 658, 99 Sup. Ct. 3055, 61 L.Ed. 2d 823 (1979).

² The twelve tribes are the Hoh, Jamestown S'Klallam, Lower Elwha S'Klallam, Lummi, Makah, Port Gamble S'Klallam, Quileute, Quinault, Skokomish, Suquamish, Swinomish, and Tulalip.

³ They were judicially confirmed by the court in Makah Indian Tribe v. Brown, Civ. No. C85-1606R (W.D. Wash.) and U.S. v. Washington, Civ. No. 70-9213—Phase I, Subproceeding No. 92-1 (W.D. Wash.) (Order on Five Motions Relating to Treaty Halibut Fishing, December 29, 1993).

⁴ Convention between Canada and the United States of America for the Preservation of the Halibut Fishery of the Northern Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea.

⁵ The FCMA established seven regional fishery management councils to manage federal marine fisheries. The coastal area being discussed in this report falls under the jurisdiction of the Pacific Fishery Management Council. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council covers halibut fisheries off Alaska.