January 8, 2026, Seward Folly
Opinion Piece by Tim Johnson (local Seward fisherman)
Comments due on proposal to limit local recreational halibut fishing by January 18
A proposal to limit local recreational fishing for halibut (non-charter) has been put forward to the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), which will meet January 19. The proposal would slash the daily halibut limit for recreational fishing in half (current limit of 2 per day down to 1 per day). This proposal was submitted by the long-lining commercial fishing trade association group based in Seattle.
As per the data presented in 2022 by the IPHC, commercial fishing was responsible for a take of 26.1 million pounds. This is dramatically contrasted to the 6.6 million pounds taken by recreational fishing (both guided and non-guided). Total by-catch ALONE for the commercial fleets also totaled 6.6 million pounds! There is no doubt that we all need to be proportionately responsible for a sustainable halibut fishery. If not, future generations will not have the opportunities we have.
Why not focus on minimizing the waste (by-catch) involved with commercial fishing rather than limiting our ability to fish locally for our families? How fair is it that a big-money industry responsible for the largest take (and by far the largest waste) of the Pacific halibut stock is pushing to limit our ability to put local fish on our tables?
If this seems unfair to you, please comment to the IPHC by no later than January 18. Local recreational fishing (non-guided) has no lobby group with deep pockets to do it for us.
We need to make our voices heard by the IPHC. Use the IPHC link below to comment:
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