Halibut bycatch by the Bering Sea trawl fleet could be reduced by up to one-third following a vote by the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council.

After days of deliberation and public testimony at the online council meeting, the members voted 8-3 on Monday to link the prohibited-species catch limit of Bering Sea halibut to the abundance of the fish, thereby lowering trawl fleet bycatch when there are fewer halibut.

Fishermen and stakeholders from across coastal Alaska testified in support of a steep reduction in the allowed halibut bycatch. Hundreds of people commented in writing and by...