The scientific staff of the International Pacific Halibut Commission today recommended catch limits for the 2011 season, and the numbers are seriously ugly.
Coastwide, the staff is recommending a 19 percent cut to 41.02 million pounds.
For Southcentral Alaska (Area 3A), the staff is calling for a 28 percent cut to 14.36 million pounds.
For Southeast Alaska (Area 2C), the staff is recommending a fearsome 47 percent cut to 2.33 million pounds.
Ouch.
The commission meets in January in Victoria, British Columbia, to consider the recommendations.