The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Fisheries and Oceans Canada independently adopted catch limits governing their respective 2018 Pacific halibut fisheries just in time for the season to start March 24.

The two countries adopted the catch limits separately after failing to reach a consensus in January at the IPHC meeting. This was the first time the IPHC failed to reach such an agreement since 1990, said International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) Assistant Director Steve Keith.

The total US and Canadian catch limits is 27.93