Russia calls for temporary ban on Pacific halibut fishing

WWF-Russia calls for temporary ban on Pacific halibut fishing. WWF-Russia has sent a letter to the head of the Russian Federal Fishery Agency, outlining their concerns about a fourfold decline of the Pacific halibut population which has been witnessed in the recent years in the northern part of the Sea of Okhotsk and near the Kamchatka peninsula. WWF-Russia experts are certain that a temporary ban on bottom longline fishing alongside a revision of stock assessment methods will prevent a disaster, preserve the habitats, and ensure halibut population growth. Sergey Rafanov, the head of the Sustainable Marine Fishery Programme of WWF-Russia said: “The Pacific halibut stock assessment is based on everyday reports provided by fishing vessels. There is a serious lack of field reports and information provided by scientific observers. The allowable catch is over-estimated because of that. Contributing factors are not taken into account as well. “For example, we ...