Locals Speak Up On Halibut Regulations

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is considering action regarding halibut fishing in the state.

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by Megan Mazurek

Story Created: Dec 13, 2011 at 5:17 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Dec 13, 2011 at 5:17 PM AKDT

The governing body, set to make decisions on halibut in Alaska, is listening to public testimony from locals around the state.
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is considering action regarding halibut fishing in the state.
The council is also considering actions on the management measure for halibut fishing charters in southcentral and southeast Alaska.
According to the International Pacific Halibut Commission, halibut numbers have been steadily declining. For years commercial fishermen and charter boat anglers have been fighting over the Alaska flatfish and each side hopes to find some common ground in keeping halibut viable for the future
"We've been, you know, butting heads for nearly 20 years now," said Steve Fish, a commercial fisherman from Sitka. "We're really close to hopefully finding a solution to where we can work on some things together, and you know, make a lot more progress together that will benefit both sides."
The Halibut Commission suggests a U.S. Pacific coast wide harvest cut of nearly 20 percent from about 41 million pounds this year, to 33 million pounds in 2012.

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