Halibut is a
flatfish, genus
Hippoglossus, from the family of the right-eye
flounders (
Pleuronectidae). Other flatfish are also called halibut. The name is derived from
haly (holy) and
butt (flat fish), for its popularity on Catholic holy days. Halibut are
demersal fish which live in the North
Pacific and the North
Atlantic oceans. They are highly-regarded food fish.
Physical characteristics
The halibut is the largest flat fish, averaging 11–13.5 kilograms (24–30 lb), but catch as large as 333 kilograms (730 lb) are reported; the largest recently recorded was 245 kilograms (540 lb) taken off the coast of Northern
Norway and 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) long.They are gray-black on the top side with an off-white underbelly and have very small scales invisible to the naked eye embedded in their skin. At birth they have an eye on each side of the head, and swim like a salmon. After six months one eye migrates to the other side, making them look more like flounder. At the same time the stationary-eyed side darkens to match the top side, while the other side remains white. This color scheme disguises halibut from above (blending with the ocean floor) and from below (blending into the light from the sky) and is known as
countershading.
Diet
Halibut feed on almost any animal they can fit into their mouths. Juvenile halibut feed on small crustaceans and other bottom dwelling organisms. Animals found in their stomachs include
sand lance, octopus, crab, salmon,
hermit crabs,
lamprey,
sculpin,
cod,
pollock,
herring,
flounder as well as other halibut. Halibut live at depths ranging from a few meters to hundreds of meters, and although they spend most of their time near the bottom, halibut may move up in the
water column to feed. In most ecosystems the halibut is near the top of the marine
food chain. In the North Pacific their common predators are the
sea lion (
Eumetopias jubatus), the
orca (
Orcinus orca), and the
salmon shark (
Lamna ditropis).
Halibut fishery
The North Pacific commercial
halibut fishery dates to the late 19th century and today is one of the region's largest and most lucrative. In Canadian and U.S. waters,
longline predominates, using chunks of octopus ("devilfish") or other bait on circle hooks attached at regular intervals to a weighted line that can extend for several miles across the bottom. The fishing vessel retrieves the line after several hours to a day. The effects of longline gear on habitats are poorly understood but could include disturbance of sediments,
benthic structures, and other structures.
International management is necessary, because the species occupies waters of the United States, Canada, Russia, and possibly Japan (where the species is known to the Japanese as Ohyo), and matures slowly. Halibut do not reproduce until age eight, when about 30 inches (76 cm) long, so commercial capture below this length prevents breeding and is against U.S. and Canadian regulations supporting sustainability. Pacific halibut fishing is managed by the
International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC).
For most of the modern era, halibut fishery operated as a derby. Regulators declared time slots when fishing was open (typically 24–48 hours at a time) and fisherman raced to catch as many pounds as they could within that interval. This approach accommodated unlimited participation in the fishery while allowing regulators to control the quantity of fish caught annually by controlling the number and timing of openings. The approach led to unsafe fishing as openings were necessarily set before the weather was known, forcing fisherman to leave port regardless of the weather. The approach limited fresh halibut to the markets to several weeks per year, when the gluts would push down the price received by fishermen.
Individual fishing quotas
In 1995, U.S. regulators allocated
individual fishing quotas (IFQs) to existing fishery participants based on each vessel's documented historical catch. IFQs grant holders a specific proportion of each year's
total allowable catch (TAC). The fishing season is nine months. The IFQ system improved both safety and product quality by providing a stable flow of fresh halibut to the marketplace. Critics of the program suggest that, since holders can sell their quota and the fish are a public resource, the IFQ system gave a public resource to the private sector. The fisheries were managed through a treaty between The United States and Canada per recommendations of the International Pacific Halibut Commission that was formed in 1923.
There is also a significant
sport fishery in Alaska and British Columbia where halibut are a prized game and food fish. Sport fisherman use large rods and reels with 80–150 pounds (36–68 kg) line, and often bait with
herring, large
jigs, or whole salmon heads. Halibut are strong and fight strenuously when exposed to air. Smaller fish will usually be pulled on board with a
gaff and may be clubbed or even punched in the head in order to prevent them from thrashing around on the deck. In both commercial and sport fisheries standard procedure is to shoot or otherwise subdue very large halibut over 150–200 pounds (68–91 kg) before landing them. Alaska's sport fishery is an element of the state's tourism economy.
As food
Hot smoked Pacific halibut
Halibut are often broiled, deep-fried or grilled while fresh. Smoking is more difficult with halibut meat than it is with salmon, due to its ultra-low fat content. Eaten fresh, the meat has a clean taste and requires little seasoning. Halibut is noted for its dense and firm texture.
Halibut have historically been an important food source to
Native Americans and Canadian
First Nations and continue to be a key element to many coastal subsistence economies. Accommodating the competing interests of commercial, sport, and subsistence users is a challenge.
The Atlantic population is so depleted through overfishing that it may be declared an
endangered species. According to
Seafood Watch, consumers should avoid Atlantic halibut. Most halibut eaten on the East coast of the United States are from the Pacific.
Species of the genus Hippoglossus (proper halibut)
Atlantic halibut (
Hippoglossus hippoglossus) on a
Faroese stamp
Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus Pacific halibut,
Hippoglossus stenolepis
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