After years of cuts, Southeast Alaska halibut fishermen might see a small increase in their catch next year, but the total quota could be down again coast-wide in 2012 and beyond. During a meeting Wednesday in Seattle, the International Pacific Halibut Commission’s staff unveiled recommendations for an overall drop of 19 percent next year. Most fishing areas would see cuts except for Southeast and the Pacific Northwest which would actually go up somewhat. However, the staff also presented alternative limits in which all areas could see much larger cuts to make up for overestimates in past years. Matt Lichtenstein reports
Photo by: International Pacific Halibut Commission
