Pacific Halibut Fisheries of the West Coast; Inseason Action for the 2026 Area 2A Pacific Halibut Directed Commercial Fishery
Key claim: NMFS adds a July 21–23, 2026 fishing period with a 5,000 lb per-vessel catch limit for the non-Tribal directed commercial Pacific halibut fishery in IPHC Area 2A to help the fleet reach its 2026 allocation.
Abstract
(Rule · Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) NMFS announces an inseason action for the 2026 Pacific halibut non-Tribal directed commercial fishery in the International Pacific Halibut Commission’s (IPHC) regulatory Area 2A. This action adds a fishing period, July 21 through July 23, 2026, with a fishing period catch limit of 5,000 pounds (lb) (2.27 metric tons (mt)) per vessel, dressed weight. This action is intended to provide additional opportunity for the fleet to achieve the 2026 non-Tribal directed commercial fishery allocation.
Why this matters
NMFS adds a July 21–23, 2026 fishing period with a 5,000 lb per-vessel catch limit for the non-Tribal directed commercial Pacific halibut fishery in IPHC Area 2A to help the fleet reach its 2026 allocation.