Individual vessel trip limits were imposed in various areas between 1988 and 1994. Trip limits have typically been applied late in the season when the remaining allowable catch was less than the unfettered fishery was expected to harvest in a single fishing period. Trip limits have been graduated by vessel class. Even with trip limits, the commercial fishery exceeded the coastwide catch limit by an average of 812 metric tons (4.9%) between 1977 and 1994 (Figure G.4).
Annual limits on catches of sablefish are set for four areas in the Gulf of Alaska (East Yakutat and Southeast Outside, West Yakutat, Central Gulf of Alaska, Western Gulf of Alaska), the Aleutian Islands, and the Bering Sea (Figure G.5). Limits on halibut and sablefish bycatch are established for combinations of target fishery and management area.