The amount is slightly lower than the preliminary recommendation due to concerns about area 3b, which stretches from the west end of Kodiak Island to the end of the Alaska Peninsula. The area has seen stock levels decline more than other areas.
The commission expressed concern the halibut stock assessment showed that coast-wide, the biomass has declined, and it is lower each year than what was predicted.
“The catch limits have come down substantially over the past decade or so,” IPHC Executive Director Bruce Leaman told IntraFish.
It should be considered that the stock levels are coming down from historically high rates seen in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Leaman said.
“In 2011, the total removals were twice what they were at the low point and about 40 percent below the high point,” Leaman said.
With the coast-wide halibut catch reduced more than 18 percent this year to 33.5 million pounds, following a 19 percent cut to the catch last year, there is likely to be an upward push on price this year. The fishery opened on Saturday.
Naturally, the question on fishermen’s minds is whether the market will start to push back against the increasingly high prices, reports the Dutch Harbor Fisherman.
The newspaper reports the average price for halibut during the eight month fishery in 2011 was at the high level of $6.61 (€4.95) per pound, an increase of $1.75 (€1.31) per pound from the previous year. In all, the value of Alaska's halibut catch last year was $194 million (€145 million) at the docks.
Last year, 4.3 million pounds, on average, moved to market each month, down almost 21 percent from 2010.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports reached USD 81 million in April 2026, down 6% compared to the same period in 2025. In the first four months of the year, export turnover totaled USD 289 million, down 4.8%. Although the overall export picture has yet to brighten significantly, market trends are becoming increasingly diversified rather than moving in a single direction.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is undergoing strong restructuring starting from the broodstock and fingerling segment in order to improve productivity, quality, and export competitiveness. This is considered a critical foundation for the sustainable development of the industry amid rising production costs and increasingly stringent market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs data, pangasius exports in April 2026 reached USD 206 million, up 18% compared to the same period in 2025 — marking another consecutive month of double-digit growth since the beginning of the year. Cumulative pangasius export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 720 million, up 17% year-on-year, reflecting the positive growth momentum of this key export product.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports in the first four months of 2026 maintained positive growth momentum, reaching approximately USD 1.5 billion, up 15% compared to the same period last year. However, behind this result lies diverging trends across markets, as the global shrimp industry continues to face pressure from inflation, high inventories, price competition, and increasing trade risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Vinh Tuy commune (Kien Giang Province), many shrimp farmers are adopting bottom aeration systems and reporting clear economic benefits, helping increase income and reduce production risks.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of crabs and other crustaceans reached more than USD 93 million, up 23% compared to the same period last year. The result shows that the sector is experiencing a fairly positive recovery, especially in its two key product groups: crabs and swimming crabs. However, behind the growth figures are several concerns: export markets remain highly concentrated, raw material supply is unstable, and trade barriers from the US and EU are becoming increasingly stringent.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Ca Mau province, many farmers are transitioning from traditional methods to high-tech shrimp farming, adopting recirculating systems with minimal water exchange to improve efficiency and reduce risks. In Hung My commune alone, there are about 260 super-intensive shrimp farming households covering more than 265 hectares, playing a key role in local economic development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cake and surimi reached USD 63 million, down 5% compared to the same period last year. Although total export value declined slightly due to decreases in some key markets, many other destinations continued to post strong growth, opening up room for this convenience-oriented processed segment in the coming quarters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Favorable weather conditions in the early months of 2026 have brought encouraging signs for fisheries activities in Quang Tri. Output has grown steadily, contributing to improved livelihoods for local residents.
Entering 2026, Vietnam’s seafood industry is facing a period of both high expectations and mounting pressures. Following the positive recovery in 2025, production and export activities in Q1/2026 demonstrated the strong adaptability of Vietnam’s seafood business community amid continued global trade volatility, intensifying international competition, and increasingly stringent compliance requirements in import markets.
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