February 5, 2025 — Stakeholders in the commercial halibut fishery have been allocated a total of 19.7 million pounds of harvest for the 2025 season – down 18% from the 24.03 million pounds a year ago.
The decision to reduce the harvest came during the International Pacific Halibut Commission’s (IPHC) 101st annual meeting, held from Jan. 27-31 in Vancouver, British Columbia. The commission said the decision was consequence of reports of the lowest spawning biomass of halibut in 40 years.
Area 2A, which includes the California coast north to Washington state, got a 7.23% boost in its harvest quota – from 83,000 pounds in 2024 to 89,000 pounds in 2025. However, all other IPHC areas saw a quota cut.