At just over 17.1 million pounds, current harvests represent about 72% of the coastwide fishery limit, marking the lowest on record at this point in the season.

Modeling based on historical catch patterns project a final harvest around 18.6 million pounds, meaning only another 1.5 million pounds are expected out of British Columbia and Alaska combined. In October, roughly 850,000 pounds were landed in B.C. and 1.3 million across Alaska.



This record-low season stems from quota cuts by the International Pacific Halibut Commission triggered by reduced stock abundance, with spawning biomass estimated at its lowest in 40 years. Fishing effort has also declined, as many harvesters report smaller catches, higher costs, and an increasingly tight supply environment.

On the market side, halibut buyers know that supply has remained tight the entire year, with frozen offers among the scarcest the industry has ever seen. Most of the catch has continued going straight into the fresh market, sustaining price pressures that never eased.

Our recommendation is this: With no Pacific Halibut supply relief expected until the new season begins in March 2026, buyers are advised to continue seeking alternatives such as Atlantic Halibut, which is available in both wild-caught and farmed options.



The 2026 fishery limit will be set on January 22 during the IPHC Annual Meeting. Just four years ago, few could have imagined a catch limit as low as 2025’s record low — yet that’s the difficult decision the Commission will face again as it tries to balance the livelihood of the industry and biological sustainability.