(Juneau) - On May 20, 2020, the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) met in a special session to recommend changes to the charter-caught halibut size and annual limits in IPHC Regulatory Areas 2C and 3A. These changes are summarized in the IPHC Media Release. These regulatory changes are not in effect until published in the Federal Register, which will likely not be until early July. Until that time, the current regulations for charter clients remain in place and are found on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries webpage. In Area 3A, any halibut harvested is part of the current 4-fish annual limit and must be recorded on the angler’s fishing license, or a harvest record card, if the angler is not required to possess a license (residents under 18 years of age or a nonresident under 16 years of age), or a resident 60 years of age or older and possesses a Permanent Identification Card (PID), or a qualified disabled veteran and possesses a Disabled Veterans License Card (DAV). Federal halibut regulations do not allow for the recording of annual limits on electronic devices or smartphones.

Additional information on sport fishing for halibut in Alaska can be found on the NOAA Fisheries webpage.

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