June 16, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
The first 3-day commercial halibut fishing season of 2021 in federal waters off the West Coast begins next week. It starts on Tuesday, June 22 at 8 a.m. and ends on Thursday, June 24 at 6 p.m. NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement will be conducting patrols throughout the season along with our partners.
Patrols will focus on ensuring compliance with the rules and regulations governing commercial halibut fishing. These include:
- Proper marking of fishing gear
- Permitting and vessel documentation
- Minimum size and possession restrictions
All setline or skate marker buoys carried on board or used by any U.S. vessel for halibut fishing must be marked with either the vessel’s state license number or registration number. The markings must be in legible characters at least 4 inches high and one-half inch wide in a contrasting color visible above the water.
Learn more about commercial halibut fishing regulations
Our partners in these patrols include:
- U.S. Coast Guard
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police
- Oregon State Police
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife