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Halibut Tagging

05/10/09     Mike Mason

The commercial fishery for Pacific Halibut is currently underway across the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea. That fishery has grown in value in recent years with an average ex-vessel value of about $300-million dollars in the last 5-years. Scientific research about Pacific Halibut dates back to the 1920’s but there are still questions about the movement and migration patterns of Halibut. A recent satellite tagging project in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands indicates that at least some halibut move around differently than originally thought. The results of the tagging project were unveiled at a recent science symposium in Anchorage by Andrew Seitz with U-A-F. Seitz noted that much of what is known about halibut is assumed based on observations and other data.

Spot——0041—Halibut Research 1——18-seconds—-Q: “annually”

Pacific halibut is managed differently than other species. The main management authority for Pacific halibut is the International Pacific Halibut Commission, which was originally called the International Fisheries Commission. The Commission dates back to 1923 as a convention between the U-S and Canada. It’s made up of 3 government-appointed commissioners for each country. The I-P-H-C conducts research, assesses the stock, and recommends harvest limits. The fishery is then managed by each government. In the U-S it’s the National Marine Fisheries Service. Seitz pointed out that the Pacific halibut stocks are managed as a single fully mixed population.

Spot——0042—-Halibut Research 2——41-seconds—-Q: “range”

One of the reasons given for the satellite tagging project is to gather data to try and figure out why some areas are experiencing lower halibut catches compared to previous years. Seitz used the Bering Sea as an example.

Spot——0043—Halibut Research 3——39-seconds—-Q: “markers”

The satellite tagging project was intended to help managers and researchers figure out if there is just one population of Pacific halibut or distinct and separate populations in the Gulf of Alaska and in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands region. 61-halibut were tagged in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands region over 3 field seasons in 5-different locations. Seitz says the tags popped up in mid-February.

Spot—-0045—-Halibut Research 5—-39-seconds—-Q: “passes”

If halibut don’t cross from the Gulf of Alaska to the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands area that would support the idea of separate populations of halibut. Seitz says there are further implications to what is known about Pacific halibut in the Bering Sea.

Spot—-0046—-Halibut Research 6—-55-seconds—-Q: “west”

The research about the dispersal of Pacific Halibut in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands areas could mean that Halibut don’t migrate as far as originally believed, which could result in areas that are fished hard suffering local depletions. Seitz says the studies results can’t be used to make changes in the way stocks are currently managed until further holes in the research are filled.

Spot—-0047—-Halibut Research 7—-45-seconds—-Q: “find”

Anyone who finds a pop up satellite tag is asked to call the I-P-H-C at 206-634-1838. There is a reward offered. The report about the satellite tagging project was written by researchers from the International Pacific Halibut Commission, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the U.S. Geological Survey.