7/25/13 ACTION NOTICE (1 of 2): NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, representatives from the commercial troll fishery, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council, has taken in-season action to adjust the incidental troll halibut landing limit.

ACTION TAKEN: Effective Thursday, August 1; the commercial troll salmon incidental Pacific halibut landing and possession limit for valid permit holders of International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) license holders is reduced to 5 halibut per trip within IPHC area 2A (Washington, Oregon, and California). Troll fishers continue to be limited to no more than one Pacific halibut for each three Chinook per trip, except that one Pacific halibut may be possessed or landed without meeting the ratio requirement.

RATIONALE: Approximately 75% of the incidental troll Pacific halibut quota of 30,600 has been landed through July 25th, leaving less than 8,000 lbs. remaining to be caught. At the current catch rates, it was expected that close to half of the remaining quota was likely to be caught within the next week. By adjusting the trip limit downward to 5 fish effective with the next North of Falcon open period, it is expected that the fishery will be able to maximize the utilization of the remaining quota without exceeding the quota.