Pacific Halibut on the West Coast

Management Overview

Under the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982, NOAA Fisheries manages Pacific halibut in the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) Area 2A, in the waters off Washington, Oregon, and California, shown on the map below. The fishery is managed in coordination with the IPHC, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), State Departments of Fish and Wildlife (Washington, Oregon, California), and 13 Treaty Tribes.

The IPHC sets the annual Area 2A Fishery Constant Exploitable Yield (FCEY), which is accepted or rejected by the Secretary of State with concurrence from the Secretary of Commerce. The Council develops, and NOAA Fisheries approves, a catch sharing plan that allocates the Area 2A FCEY into Tribal and non-Tribal allocations. The catch sharing plan further divides the non-Tribal allocation into suballocations among commercial and recreational fisheries. Management measures for the non-Tribal fisheries are implemented by NOAA Fisheries based on recommendations developed either through the Council or IPHC processes.

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Non-Tribal Commercial Fishing

Non-Tribal commercial halibut fishing on the West Coast includes a directed commercial fishery, a fishery incidental to the salmon troll fishery, and a fishery incidental to the primary sablefish fishery in waters north of Point Chehalis, Washington.

Vessel Permit Requirements

NOAA Fisheries issues annual permits for the non-Tribal commercial Pacific halibut fisheries, including directed and incidental, off Washington, Oregon, and California (IPHC regulatory Area 2A). No person shall fish for Pacific halibut from a vessel, nor possess Pacific halibut on board a vessel, used for commercial fishing in Area 2A, unless they are in possession of a valid paper or electronic permit issued by NOAA Fisheries.

• Pacific halibut permits and deadlines

Logbook Requirements

The IPHC requires all vessels greater than 26 feet to maintain logs of halibut catch for 2 years. The IPHC approves the following logbooks to meet this requirement:

• NOAA Fisheries Pacific Coast Groundfish Non-trawl Logbook
• Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Fixed Gear Logbook
• IPHC-provided logbook

IPHC and ODFW logbooks must be submitted to the IPHC within 30 days of the close of the season. Please see the additional fishing and gear regulations from the IPHC and the Compliance Guide for Federal Non-Trawl Logbook Requirements for more information.

Non-Tribal Directed Commercial Fishery

The non-Tribal directed commercial Pacific halibut fishery operates south of Pt. Chehalis (46° 53.18’ N). The fishery is managed under a series of 58-hour fishing periods with fishing period limits (vessel catch limits), announced through annual and inseason actions by NOAA Fisheries.

Fishing Periods, Fishing Limits, and Management Measures

NOAA Fisheries publishes the non-Tribal directed commercial fishing dates following the annual meeting of the International Pacific Halibut Commission

• 2026 Directed Commercial Management Measures

NOAA Fisheries will establish additional fishing periods if we project that enough of the allocation will be available following the close of the second fishing period.

Incidental Commercial Fisheries

Incidental to Salmon Troll

During the salmon troll season, incidental harvest of Pacific halibut is allowed at a rate specified in annual salmon fishery rulemaking, based on recommendations from the Council during their annual March and April meetings, with possible inseason adjustments. Further information can be found on the West Coast ocean salmon fisheries website and Pacific halibut regulations.

Incidental to Sablefish

During the primary sablefish fishery, incidental harvest of Pacific halibut is allowed in waters north of Point Chehalis, Washington by vessels using longline gear, at a rate specified in regulations at 50 CFR 660.231(b)(3)(iv) and modified based on Council recommendations during their annual March Council meeting, with possible inseason adjustments. Further information can be found on the West Coast groundfish fishery website and Pacific halibut regulations.

Recreational Fishing

The recreational fishery is divided into subareas and includes individual anglers and charter boats. Management measures are implemented by NOAA Fisheries based on Council recommendations made during their annual September and November meetings.

Charter Vessel Permit Requirements

Permits issued by NOAA Fisheries are required for recreational charter vessels operating in Area 2A.

• Pacific halibut permits and deadlines

Fishing Dates, Allocations, and Management Measures

Annual Pacific halibut catch sharing plan and management measures include season dates, bag limits, and area closures for recreational fisheries:

• 2026 recreational fishery management measures

State Recreational Fishery Requirements and Inseason Catches

In addition to federal regulations, the states of Washington, Oregon, and California have established regulations for the recreational Pacific halibut fishery. Follow the links below for information on state recreational fishing licenses and catch reporting requirements, as well as inseason harvest estimates for each subarea:

• Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife | Recreational bottomfish and halibut
• Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife | Pacific halibut sport regulations
• California Department of Fish and Wildlife | Pacific halibut

Treaty Tribal Fishing

50 CFR § 300.64 recognizes the rights of some Washington State Treaty Tribes to conduct commercial, ceremonial, and subsistence fishing for Pacific halibut in their usual and accustomed fishing areas. These fisheries operate under federal regulations which implement the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982, while upholding treaty fishing rights affirmed in U.S. v. WA (1974).

Treaty Tribes which collectively harvest halibut within WA State’s Pacific Area 2A under federal and tribal co-management include:

• Hoh Indian Tribe
• Jamestown S’Klallam Tribes
• Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe
• Lummi Nation
• Makah Tribe
• Nooksack Indian Tribe
• Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe
• Quileute Tribe
• Quinault Indian Nation
• Skokomish Indian Tribe
• Suquamish Tribe
• Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
• Tulalip Tribes

Contact

• Email nmfs.wcr.halibut@noaa.gov