Evaluating the Needs of the California Halibut Fishery: A Progress Report

Collecting halibut length, sex, and age data from a commercial trawl landing to inform the stock assessment, at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco.
CDFW photo by K. Lesyna

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is committed to working with stakeholders to evaluate the needs of the California halibut fishery and community. Since holding two public webinars in summer/fall 2021, CDFW staff have made advances in several priority areas, as outlined below.

2020 Stock Assessment
To improve the performance and accuracy of the California halibut

Upcoming California Halibut Scaled Management Stakeholder Webinar Series Announced

California halibut. CDFW/MARE photo

Recreational fishermen targeting California halibut in San Francisco Bay. CDFW photo by K. Lesyna

California halibut scale as seen under a microscope. CDFW photo

Commercial trawl fisherman offloading California halibut. CDFW photo

In 2019, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) completed a prioritization process for all of California’s fisheries in accordance with the 2018 Master Plan for Fisheries: A Guide for Implementation of the Marine Life Management Act. California halibut was identified as a high-priority fishery for management attention.

Public Input Requested to Guide the Future of the Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery Program

Juvenile White Seabass in a pen
HSWRI photo

California Sea Grant recently submitted a final independent scientific evaluation of the Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery Program (OREHP) to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). The evaluation team concluded that the OREHP has made groundbreaking progress in developing hatchery-rearing and enhancement practices and systems for marine species. However, it has not substantially increased the abundance of White Seabass, with a less than one percent contribution to the wild White Seabass fishery over the last 30 years.

Creature Feature: California Halibut

California halibut may be found statewide in sandy and sand-mud environments. They have been found at depths of up to 300 ft., but are most abundant in waters less than 60 ft. deep. At times they are especially abundant in

Following the Halibut: CDFW Tracks 2016 Recreational Pacific Halibut Catches to Keep Within Quota

Sport fisherman and California Recreational Fishery Survey staff with Pacific halibut. CDFW photo

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has monitored the recreational Pacific halibut catch to ensure it does not exceed the federally set annual quota since 2015. Active catch tracking during the season allows CDFW to manage the fishery in a timely and responsive way, and keep the catch within the quota.

The process for 2016 is the same one CDFW used to successfully track the fishery in 2015. CDFW tracks the catch using a combination of catch projections and catch estimates, and coordinates weekly with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), and the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) regarding progress towards the quota. If catch projections indicate the quota may be exceeded, NMFS has the authority to close the fishery early.