2025 West Coast Pacific Halibut Directed Commercial Fishery
Summary
NOAA Fisheries has announced fishing periods and catch limits for the 2025 non-Tribal directed commercial Pacific halibut fishery. Additionally, to aid fishery participants in complying with regulations, certain requirements during the fishery are described here, along with resources to assist fishery participants in complying with regulations.
Fishery Allocation
The total allocation for this fishery is 259,515 pounds (118 mt), net weight.
Fishing Period Dates
- Fishing period #1: June 24 at 8:00 a.m. to June 26 at 6:00 p.m.
- Fishing period #2: July 8 at 8:00 a.m. to July 10 at 6:00 p.m.
- If a third fishing period is needed to reach the allocation, it is intended that it would occur 2 weeks after the second fishing period (July 22).
Fishing Period Limits
Fishing period limits (vessel catch limits) are shown below, in dressed weight, head-on with ice/slime. Note: Vessels with tenths of feet will be rounded up to the nearest foot for the purpose of fishing period limits.
| Vessel class | Length range (feet) | Fishing period limit (pounds) |
|---|---|---|
| A | 1 - 25 | 2,000 |
| B | 26 - 30 | 2,000 |
| C | 31 - 35 | 2,000 |
| D | 36 - 40 | 3,400 |
| E | 41 - 45 | 3,400 |
| F | 46 - 50 | 4,300 |
| G | 51 - 55 | 4,300 |
| H | 56+ | 5,000 |
Inseason Announcements
Inseason announcements will now come through direct email to fishery permit holders in the non-Tribal directed commercial fishery, sent to the email address used to apply for a halibut permit. Inseason announcements made via email will include notice of additional fishing periods, fishing period limits, and closure announcements.
Announcements and fishery updates will also be posted on the 2025 non-Tribal directed commercial Pacific halibut fishery website and distributed through newsletter emails .
Fish Tickets and Reporting
Fish tickets must be submitted in accordance with state rules and regulations: Washington , Oregon , California . Timely submission greatly helps NOAA Fisheries assess fishery catches inseason and send out timely updates.
Seabird Avoidance
Vessels retaining only Pacific halibut are not required, but encouraged to use seabird avoidance gear. Any vessel retaining groundfish that is at least 26 feet in overall length, and is operating in federal waters (3 nm - 200 nm) north of 36° N. lat.; must follow the requirements of the groundfish Seabird Avoidance Program ( 50 CFR 660.21 ). See the compliance guide for more information.
Logbooks
Logbooks are required for vessels 26 feet or greater. Approved logbooks include: logbooks provided by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), Pacific Coast Groundfish non-trawl logbooks (electronic), or Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Fixed Gear Logbooks. IPHC and ODFW logbooks must be submitted to the IPHC within 30 days of the close of the season. See IPHC regulations for additional information on logbook requirements. Note that fishermen retaining groundfish must also comply with groundfish logbook regulations and should refer to that compliance guide for more information.
Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)
VMS is not an explicit requirement for participating in the directed Pacific halibut fishery, but, if a vessel is otherwise required to use VMS (such as when retaining groundfish), it is then also required during Pacific halibut fishing operations. Vessels that are required to have a VMS must make the following declaration: Open access Pacific halibut longline gear (declaration code 62) ( 50 CFR 660.14 ), as well as any other applicable declaration codes. See NOAA Fisheries Vessel Monitoring System on the West Coast page for more information: Compliance Guide , Declaration Report Worksheet , and approved VMS units .
Closed Areas
Vessels are prohibited from fishing within closed areas as defined in 50 CFR 300.63(f) , including the non-trawl Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCAs). RCAs are depth-based areas closed to fishing with certain gear types. The RCA boundaries are lines that connect a series of latitude and longitude coordinates and are intended to approximate particular depth contours. Coordinates that define the RCA boundary lines are listed at 50 CFR 660.71(e) , 50 CFR 660.73(a) , and 50 CFR 660.72(j) . All vessels must comply with Pacific halibut RCA regulations regardless of groundfish retention. Vessels retaining groundfish in state waters of California are also subject to California RCA regulations .
See Pacific halibut regulations and the NOAA Fisheries West Coast Groundfish Closed Areas page for more information on closed areas, including Essential Fish Habitat Conservation areas and Yelloweye RCAs.
Permit Deadlines (Beginning in 2026)
Beginning in 2026, the permit deadline for all Area 2A non-Tribal commercial Pacific halibut fisheries is March 15.
Other Regulations and Resources
Regulations listed above are only a partial list of applicable regulations. Some helpful links to more regulations and resources include:
- The 2025 non-Tribal directed commercial Pacific halibut fishery website.
- The West Coast Pacific halibut website.
- Pacific halibut fishery regulations at 50 CFR Part 300 Subpart E.
- Annual management measures for Area 2A non-tribal directed commercial Pacific halibut (90 FR 15129).
- IPHC regulations adopted annually by NOAA Fisheries (90 FR 13293 and on the IPHC website).
- West Coast Groundfish compliance guides, commercial fishing website, and regulations.
Questions?
Contact Heather Fitch, Fishery Management Specialist, at heather.fitch@noaa.gov or (360) 867-8608; or contact the West Coast Region Pacific halibut team at nmfs.wcr.halibut@noaa.gov.