- The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has announced inseason adjustments for the Pacific halibut recreational fishery in the Columbia River and Oregon Central Coast subareas.
- The Columbia River subarea will receive an additional 5,000 pounds of halibut allocation transferred from the Oregon Central Coast subarea.
- Fishing dates have been extended in the Columbia River subarea, allowing fishing from August 17 through September 30, 2025, on specific days of the week.
- The Oregon Central Coast subarea, despite transferring part of its allocation, will continue to have sufficient allocation to support fishing through the end of the season on October 31, 2025.
- These changes aim to ensure the overall recreational fishery allocation is met, providing more opportunities for anglers and supporting local businesses dependent on recreational fishing.
- The adjustments are part of the 2025 Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan and are intended to maximize economic benefits for the fishing communities involved.
- Local businesses, including charter fishing operations and associated port businesses, are expected to benefit from the increased fishing opportunities in the Columbia River subarea.
Expanded Fishing Opportunities in Washington Subareas
- In the Washington Puget Sound subarea, anglers will benefit from additional fishing days from August 16 through September 30, 2025, due to remaining allocation, enhancing local fishing activities.
- The Washington North Coast subarea will also see extended fishing days within the same period, providing more opportunities for recreational fishing and supporting local economies.
- The Washington South Coast subarea will have specific additional fishing days from August 17 through September 30, 2025, with fishing allowed Sunday through Friday on specified dates, further boosting local fishing-related businesses.
- These adjustments are designed to optimize the use of the recreational fishery allocation, offering economic advantages to communities and businesses involved in recreational fishing across these Washington subareas.
To view the original document on the Federal Register, click here.