Halibut, Pacific U.S.

Pacific halibut is not considered overfished, and populations have been monitored and managed by the International Pacific Halibut Commission for almost 80 years. The estimated number of halibut in the ocean has declined about 50% in the last decade, and fish that are being caught are much smaller now than they used to be. These are both potential indicators for excessive fishing pressure. The IPHC has allowed for reduced commercial limits on the number of halibut that can be landed, and recreational fishermen may only catch one halibut per trip. Both of these restrictions are intended to prevent overfishing of halibut – and are signs of attentive management. Fishing for halibut is limited to hook-and-line capture, which usually results in minimal habitat damage, and all halibut captured by other means must be returned to the sea. Halibut landings and bycatch are carefully monitored and trawl fisheries in the Bering Sea are often limited by calculations related to bycatch mortality. Halibut is not strongly associated with contaminants, but may contain some mercury. Consumers should check for current warnings to determine safe consumption levels of fish, in particular for pregnant women, those who may become pregnant and children: http://map1.epa.gov.

Note: Atlantic halibut populations have been heavily overfished through the 19th and early 20th centuries, and have not recovered. Currently, the Atlantic halibut direct fishery is closed. Atlantic halibut is only caught accidentally when fishing for other types of fish. For more information, see “Flatfish, Atlantic.”