2018 PACIFIC HALIBUT CATCH LIMITS IN INTERNATIONAL PACIFIC HALIBUT COMMISSION REGULATORY AREA 2A (WASHINGTON, OREGON, AND CALIFORNIA)

The purpose of the proposed action is to set 2018 catch limits for Pacific halibut in IPHC Regulatory Area 2A. The proposed action would have low negative effects on listed salmon, Puget Sound bocaccio and yelloweye rockfish, and green sturgeon because although these species are caught as bycatch in the halibut fishery, the impacts are low because the bycatch of these species is expected to be minor compared to the overall population levels. For the remaining listed species in the action area, proposed action would have negligible effects on marine mammals, sea turtles, eulachon because these species rarely interact with halibut fisheries and this is unlikely to change because the gear, areas, and timing are not anticipated to change.