Photo courtesy of National Park Service
Pacific Halibut Fact Sheet
By Julia Illar
Pacific halibut are a large flatfish and a member of the family Pleuronectidae. Halibut are iconic for swimming on their sides, and usually both of their eyes are found on the right side of their bodies. The upper sides are gray, brown, or black in color and have spots that help the fish to blend into the ocean floor. The undersides of halibut are white in color. They are so abundant in the waters near Homer, Alaska that the town has received the nickname, “the halibut capitol of the world.”
Pacific halibut live throughout the northern Pacific Ocean, extending from Alaska’s Chukchi Sea down to California. They can be found as far west as Japan. They prefer colder water temperatures and thrive in the areas surrounding Alaska.
Pacific halibut are not threatened or vulnerable. They are sustainably managed and are harvested responsibly in accordance with U.S. regulations. There are no known threats to Pacific halibut as long as the population is healthy and yield is limited.
DID YOU KNOW…
Pacific halibut are the largest species of flatfish in the world.
Halibut are born with one eye on each side of their bodies like most fish species, but as they grow, their eyes shift to one side.
Pacific halibut are considered “right handed” if their eyes are both on the left side.
The age of a halibut is estimated by counting the rings in the ear bone of the fish. This bone is known as the “otolith.”
Photo courtesy of Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game
SCIENTIFIC AND COMMON NAMES
Hippoglossus stenolepis – Pacific halibut. Large-sized halibut of this species are nicknamed “barn doors,” and small halibut are nicknamed “chickens.”
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Pacific halibut can weigh up to 500 pounds and grow up to eight feet in length. They have diamond, flat-shaped bodies, with males typically being smaller than females. Their eyes are located on the upper side of their body away from the seafloor. Their eyes are usually on the right side of their bodies, but in rare cases (1 in every 20,000!), their eyes can be located on their left. They have small, buried scales that have a smooth appearance.
Male Pacific halibut sexually mature at age eight while females are able to reproduce by age 12. Halibut are known to live for about 55 years, but most live to be around 25 years of age. Females tend to live longer than males.
Here is a picture of a rare Pacific halibut. Its eyes are present on the left side of its body- usually the eyes are on the right side!
Photo courtesy of Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game
RANGE
Map courtesy of Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game
Pacific halibut are thought to spawn during November through March in deep water depths of about 300 to 1,500 feet. This takes place through their range along the continental shelf. They are found to spawn in the Bering Sea, along the Aleutian Islands, in the Gulf of Alaska, and possibly down to the coast of British Columbia. It is believed that the Pacific halibut is most common in the Central Gulf of Alaska.
Halibut prefer to live in deep water and swim up through the water column to feed.
Watch this video on Pacific halibut!
THREATS/CONCERNS
While Pacific halibut populations are currently abundant and healthy, there are always threats from factors like pollution, warming waters, bycatch, and overfishing. Fortunately, there are fishery management systems put into place since 1923 that allocate allowable catch among harvesters in the U.S.. By setting a catch limit on the Pacific halibut stock, it ensures long-term welfare and health of the species.
The management systems put into place also have set dates for fishing season, and fishing seasons closed during spawning season. Additionally, there is a minimum size requirement of the fish that can be harvested. This requirement is set to help protect juvenile fish from being harvested before they can spawn.
Photo courtesy of NOAA
LIFE HISTORY AND DIET
The Pacific halibut spawns during the winter and in deep water off the continental slope around places like Alaska and British Columbia. Females, depending on their size, can have between 500,000 and 4 million eggs. Eggs are fertilized by males externally, and the eggs hatch about 12 to 20 days afterwards. Larvae continue to ride the surface currents until they are carried to coastal waters.
Photo courtesy of Wild Pacific Halibut
Larvae will float closely to the surface of the sea for six months. After this, they grow into adults and settle into the bottom of shallow water. During this stage of development, the larvae feed on zooplankton (and later, small crustaceans) as they grow.
As halibut grow, they will eat fish and larger species of marine creatures like octopus, clams, and even crab. Over time, they will also begin to move towards the continental shelf and deeper waters. Adult Pacific halibut are thought to migrate seasonally, and they continue this migratory pattern until they no longer can reproduce.
Watch this video about the Pacific halibut fishery along British Columbia!
CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
In Alaska, peoples such as the Tlingit frequently utilized the Pacific halibut. The Tlingit used a hook and line method to catch the fish. The hook was large with an alder wood shaft carved in a beautiful manner that represented an animal, object, or mythological personage. It was believed that the shaft with the carving would influence and entice the halibut to the bait. Fishing line was made out of spruce root or sinew, and bones created weight on the line. Many cultures value the Pacific halibut, as well as other species of halibut.
PACIFIC HALIBUT COLORING SHEET
We hope you learned something new about the Pacific halibut! Check out our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to learn more about Alaska’s wildlife, and subscribe to our free newsletter to get updates from the Alaska Wildlife Alliance! If you want to support wildlife conservation in Alaska, you can become a member for only $35 dollars a year!
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Information obtained from: Wild Pacific Halibut, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, NOAA Fisheries, National Park Service, and Traditional Animal Foods.
