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3-Minute Market Insight

EP 713 | AIRED 10/21/2024

Pacific Halibut: Fresh & Frozen Supply, Harvest Lagging, Season Ending Soon

October 21st, 2024 - As the seasons wind down on Cod, Pollock, and Haddock, and North American supply remains critically low for those species, let’s take a look at the Halibut market as there is less than 47 days left in the Pacific Halibut season that stretches from Alaska to California.

SINBAD
The Pacific Halibut fishery managed by the International Pacific Halibut Commission will come to a close on Dec 7th.

The latest pulse on harvest is that this season is trailing by nearly 2 million pounds compared to last year’s pace, but is also the lowest landings at this timing in the season in the past 5 years.

Based on our internal forecast, it’s estimated that the total net weight harvest by the end of the season will land somewhere around 25 million pounds potentially marking it one of the lowest in recent years. This means there is potentially around 5 million pounds of Halibut remaining to be harvested between now and December 7th.

Halibut Update

This year’s catch limit (or the IPHC TCEY) is one of the lowest on record in recent decades, with spawning biomass nearing the lowest levels since the 1970s and catch rates across most IPHC regulatory areas at or near 40-year lows.

On the market side, it appears Halibut can also be added to the list of whitefish that is in tight supply. Our pulse is that more fish went to the fresh market this year compared to previous years - meaning less Halibut was frozen for inventories.

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For pricing we are hearing frozen headed and gutted Halibut reaching upwards or over $8.50 per pound. At the time of reporting, there is an offer on TradexLIVE still available for 2024 production 10/20 H&G Alaskan Halibut that can be secured immediately for an exceptional price.

Halibut Update

Our recommendation is to secure your Pacific Halibut as soon as it becomes available as there is not much fishing left in the season.

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