Commercial Halibut: New Nets for 2026 Catches
Published Date: 3/25/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
Fishermen along the West Coast are getting new rules for catching Pacific halibut in 2026. These rules set when and how much they can fish to protect halibut populations while still letting them earn a living. Comments on these changes are open until April 24, 2026, so everyone has a chance to weigh in!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
Fixed Short 3‑Day Fishing Windows
NMFS proposes 3‑day (58‑hour) directed commercial fishing periods in 2026: the first from 8 a.m. PDT June 23, 2026 to 6 p.m. PDT June 25, 2026; the second from 8 a.m. PDT July 7, 2026 to 6 p.m. PDT July 9, 2026; and, if needed, a third period beginning on July 23, 2026 at 8 a.m. PDT and closing on July 25, 2025 at 6 p.m. PDT. Any additional periods would occur about every 2 weeks thereafter and would be announced by inseason action.
Per‑Vessel Catch Limits by Size Class
NMFS proposes to maintain fishing period (vessel) limits by vessel size class for the first two 2026 fishing periods: vessel classes A–C (1–35 ft) 2,000 lb (0.907 mt); D–E (36–45 ft) 3,400 lb (1.542 mt); F–G (46–55 ft) 4,300 lb (1.950 mt); H (56+ ft) 5,000 lb (2.268 mt). Limits are in dressed weight (head‑on, with ice and slime), and vessel length is rounded up if between lengths.
2026 Non‑Tribal Halibut Allocation Set
If you fish commercially (non‑Tribal) for Pacific halibut in Regulatory Area 2A (off Washington, Oregon, and California), the proposed 2026 non‑Tribal directed commercial allocation is 261,211 lb (118.5 mt) net weight — an increase of 1,696 lb (0.77 mt) from 2025. The Regulatory Area 2A fishery constant exploitation yield (FCEY) adopted by the IPHC for 2026 is 1.54 million lb (698.5 mt), derived from a total constant exploitation yield of 1.65 million lb (748 mt).
Permit Deadline and Likely Participation
To participate in the 2026 Regulatory Area 2A non‑Tribal directed commercial fishery you had to apply for a permit by March 15, 2026. In 2025 NMFS issued 171 permits and 33% (57 vessels) participated; since 2021 the average has been about 180 permits per year with about 38% (76 vessels) participating.
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Key Dates
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