APPENDIX III APPENDIX III 
Harvesting capability 
Officials from the International Pacific Halibut Com- 
mission told us many skilled halibut fishermen and boats par- 
ticipate in the fishery; only the condition of the fish stock 
limits the fishery. 
Product development and processing 
Most of the Pacific halibut landed by U.S. fishing boats 
enters the market as fresh or frozen halibut products; little 
is canned or further processed. An International Pacific 
Halibut Commission official told us that because the price 
and demand for halibut in these primary forms is so high, 
little need exists to develop new products. 
Marketing potential 
The official further said that the domestic market for 
halibut can easily absorb the U.S. harvest and halibut im- 
ports. If additional halibut resources were available, 
they also could be easily marketed. 
OBSTACLES INHIBITING GROWTH AND 
DEVELOPMENT OF THE FISHERY 
Resource availability 
Industry, Government, and International Pacific Halibut 
Commission officials attribute the decline in U.S. halibut 
landings to several causes. They cite Japanese and Soviet 
trawlers as having the most serious effect on halibut stock. 
Halibut are caught incidentally to the trawling for target 
species, such as black cod, pollock, and ocean perch. Over- 
fishing, another cause of halibut depletion, will be dis- 
cussed under the section on management controls. 
The total estimated foreign catch of halibut for the 
period 1958-72 is shown in table 13. In the 10-year period 
1962-71, the foreign catch averaged 25.5 percent of total 
landings for Pacific halibut. However, the foreign catch 
includes young halibut below the legal size for U.S. and 
Canadian setline fishermen. Loss of these young fish is 
reducing recruitment of halibut into the setline fishery 
stocks. 
Harvesting capabilities 
Officials of the International Pacific Halibut Commis- 
sion and Seattle Fishing Vessel Owners Association told us 
harvesting capabilities in the form of vessels and manpower 
142 
