The International Pacific Halibut Commission has released its staff recommendations for 2005 catch limits, and quotas are expected to remain relatively stable. Area 3A, which includes Homer, is expected to increase slightly, from 25.06 million pounds in 2004 to 25.45 million pounds, if the IPHC adopts the recommendations at its annual meeting in January. The only area to see a significant reduction is Area 3B, which covers the area from the south end of Kodiak to Unimak Pass. That area is expected to fall 16 percent, from 15.60 million pounds to 13.17 million pounds. The quota statewide should see a slight decline totaling 3.7 percent, from 76.51 million pounds to 73.67 million pounds. In making catch limit recommendations for 2005, the staff considered the results of the analytic assessment, changes in the commercial and survey results used to monitor the stock, recruitment of incoming year classes, and an updated analysis of an appropriate harvest strategy. Changes in the relative abundance results from the IPHC surveys and the commercial fishery, and the choice of an appropriate harvest rate were the primary factors influencing recommendations for 2005.

The IPHC longline survey experienced an 18-to-20-percent increase in catch per unit of effort, or CPUE, for Areas 2A, 2B, and 3A, but declined by 22 percent in Area 2C, which includes Southeast Alaska. For the western Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea, survey CPUE decreased by approximately 10 percent in Areas 3B and 4A but dropped much more sharply, at 30 to 32 percent for Areas 4B and 4D. Area 4B survey CPUE in particular has been declining steadily since 1997. There were only minor technical changes in the stock assessment analytic model for 2004. The recruitment of the 1994 and 1995 year classes appears to be relatively strong in most areas, although Area 4B is showing a notably low level of recruitment in comparison with other regulatory areas.

These recommendations, along with public and industry views on them, will be considered by IPHC commissioners and their advisers at the IPHC annual meeting in Victoria, British Columbia, Jan. 18-21. These recommendations are preliminary and, as final data are included in the assessment, may be updated for the annual meeting but are not expected to change significantly. Proposals concerning changes to catch limits should be submitted to the commission by Dec. 31. Instructions for submitting proposals and additional information about the annual meeting can be found on the IPHC Web site at http://www.iphc. washington.edu/halcom/.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council reviewed a number of proposed regulatory changes to the halibut and sablefish fisheries and selected preferred alternatives. The most notable regulatory change was to allow medical transfers of IFQs, a practice common with salmon permits but not previously allowed for halibut or sablefish. IFQs can be transferred two out of five years, and evidence of qualifying medical conditions must be submitted by a licensed medical doctor or nurse practitioner or their representative.

Another significant modification to the regulations was a tightening of the criteria allowing use of hired skippers. To use the hired skipper exception, a quota share holder must now demonstrate at least a 20 percent vessel owner interest in the vessel to be used and have continuously owned the vessel as documented by the contemporary abstract of title for the previous 12 months.

The new regulation does allow for a replacement vessel in the event of a constructive loss. The council took a total of seven actions on new regulations, including changes to the block system, adding vessel clearance requirements for sablefish vessels in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, and amending the quota share categories in Areas 3B and 4A. The new rules will be written up for public comment, codified by the National Marine Fisheries Service and likely will be in place in six months to a year.

Seabird avoidance regulations for longline fishermen have been extended to state waters, within three miles of shore. This ruling affects previously exempt vessels in Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet state waters fisheries for sablefish, parallel Pacific cod and miscellaneous groundfish. Vessels fishing for IFQ halibut in state waters were previously covered under the federal regulations. The type of avoidance gear required depends on vessel size. Most vessels over 32 feet are required to use "streamer lines," also called tori lines or bird scaring lines. There are specific design requirements and performance standards for the lines. All vessels longer than 26 feet overall are also required to have a current, signed seabird avoidance plan on board and are required to make it available for inspection. While supplies last, free streamer lines are available locally at The Auction Block, located at 770 Fish Dock Road. It is important to contact them by telephone at 235-7267 to arrange receipt of the lines. For additional information on Cook Inlet or Prince William Sound groundfish regulations, contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Homer at 235-8191.

Cristy Fry has commercial fished in Homer since 1978, and has also designed and built gear for the industry. She currently longlines for halibut and sablefish, and gillnets salmon in Upper Cook Inlet aboard the F/V Realist.