Saving Seafood

Nation’s Fishery Management Councils Find Consensus on MSA Changes, Advocate for Efforts to Address Environmental Justice Issues

October 26, 2021 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

Leaders of the nation’s eight Regional Fishery Management Councils concluded their second biannual meeting in 2021 last week by videoconference. The Council Coordination Committee meeting provides the Councils and heads of the National Marine Fisheries Service an opportunity to discuss issues relevant to all of the Councils. The three-day meeting was open to the public and hosted by the Pacific Fishery Management Council.  Among the issues discussed were proposed changes to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the need to more fully address environmental justice for underserved fishing communities.

Please view the full press release and a comprehensive summary of the meeting by visiting the U.S. Regional Fishery Management Councils website at: http://www.fisherycouncils.org/ccc-meetings/october-2021.

 

Pacific Fishery Management Council named Merrick Burden as new Executive Director

October 20, 2021 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council named Mr. Merrick Burden as the new Executive Director for the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Mr. Chuck Tracy, the current Executive Director, will retire in December.

“We believe Merrick’s topical expertise, previous Director experience, and his in‐depth knowledge of the issues facing the Council will allow for a seamless transition as the Council deals with important ongoing issues,” said Council Chair, Marc Gorelnik. “We are convinced he will be able to motivate the Council staff to continue their high level of performance and enable the Council to take on future challenges successfully.” Mr. Burden’s appointment is effective November 15. For the last six years, he has been serving as the Senior Director for Resilient Fisheries and the Lead Senior Economist at the Environmental Defense Fund in Seattle, WA.

Mr. Burden has a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Linfield College and a master’s degree in Environmental and Resource Economics from Oregon State University. In addition to his work with the Environmental Defense Fund, he has worked as Executive Director for the Marine Conservation Alliance, as a Groundfish Staff Officer for the Pacific Fishery Management Council, as Industry Economist for the National Marine Fisheries Service, and as an analyst for Northern Economics, Inc.

Council Role

The Pacific Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional fishery management councils established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 for the purpose of managing fisheries miles offshore of the United States of America coastline. The Pacific Council recommends management measures for fisheries off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington.

 

Pacific Fishery Management Council to hold online webinar only meeting in November 2021 to adopt management measures for ocean fisheries

October 19, 2021 – The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC or Council) and its advisory bodies will meet November 15-19 and 21-22, 2021 by webinar only, to address issues related to coastal pelagic species, groundfish, highly migratory species, salmon, Pacific halibut, and administrative matters.

Please see the November 2021 Council meeting webpage for further updates and details regarding webinar participation; schedule of advisory body meetings, our E-Portal for submitting public comments, and public comment deadlines.  The meeting of the Council general session will be streamed live on the internet. The broadcast will begin at 10 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST) Tuesday, November 16, 2021. The meeting will continue daily at 8 a.m. through Monday, November 22nd, except there will be no meetings scheduled on Saturday, November 20th. Broadcasts end daily at 5 p.m. or when business for the day is complete.

Instructions for how to connect to the online meetings will be posted on the Council’s November 2021 meeting webpage prior to the first day of the meeting.

For further information:

•Please contact Pacific Fishery Management Council staff at 503-820-2280; toll-free 1-866-806-7204.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC or Council) and its advisory bodies will meet November 15-19 and 21-22, 2021 by webinar only, to address issues related to coastal pelagic species, groundfish, highly migratory species, salmon, Pacific halibut, and administrative matters.

Please see the November 2021 Council meeting webpage for further updates and details regarding webinar participation; schedule of advisory body meetings, our E-Portal for submitting public comments, and public comment deadlines.  The meeting of the Council general session will be streamed live on the internet. The broadcast will begin at 10 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST) Tuesday, November 16, 2021. The meeting will continue daily at 8 a.m. through Monday, November 22nd, except there will be no meetings scheduled on Saturday, November 20th. Broadcasts end daily at 5 p.m. or when business for the day is complete.

Instructions for how to connect to the online meetings will be posted on the Council’s November 2021 meeting webpage prior to the first day of the meeting.

For further information:

•Please contact Pacific Fishery Management Council staff at 503-820-2280; toll-free 1-866-806-7204.

Reminder! Pacific Council Request for Advisory Body Nominations for the 2022-2024 Term

October 18, 2021 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council is requesting nominations for the 2022-2024 Advisory Body term.  Information on submitting a nomination and links to forms and resources can be found on our Advisory Body vacancy web page. To ensure consideration, nominations should be received via our online Advisory Body Nomination Form no later than 5 p.m. Friday, October 22, 2021.

The Council is committed to the principle of diversity and is interested in receiving nominations from a broad spectrum of people.  Eligibility or selection for these positions will not be based on race, color, national origin, handicap, age, religion, or sexual orientation. For further information on the advisory bodies or the nomination process, please contact Mike Burner, Deputy Director (503-820-2414 or toll free 866-806-7204).

 

Groundfish Management Team to hold online meeting November 8, 2021

October 13, 2021 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council) Groundfish Management Team (GMT) will hold a webinar meeting to discuss items on the Pacific Council’s November 2021 meeting agenda.  The meeting is open to the public.  The online meeting will be held on Monday, November 8, 2021beginning at 1:00 p.m. and ending at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, or when business for the day is completed.

Please see the GMT meeting notice on the Council’s website for details.

For further information:

•Please contact Pacific Fishery Management Council staff officer Todd Phillips at 503-820-2426;  toll-free 1-866-806-7204.

 

Pacific Fishery Management Council Ad Hoc Marine Planning Committee to hold online meeting November 10, 2021

October 13, 2021 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council) Ad Hoc Marine Planning Committee will hold an online meeting Wednesday, November 10, 2021, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Standard Time, or until business for the day has been completed.

Please see the meeting notice on the Council’s website for additional details.

For further information:

September 2021 PFMC decision document online

September 21, 2021 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council met September 9-11, and 13-15, 2021 via RingCentral webinar. The September 2021 Council Meeting Decision Document contains the highlights of significant decisions made during that meeting. Results of agenda items that do not reach a level of highlight significance are typically not described in the decision document.

Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team to hold online meeting Monday, October 4, 2021

September 20, 2021 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council) Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team will hold an online meeting Monday, October 4, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time, or until business for the day has been completed.

Please see the meeting notice on the Council’s website for additional details.

For further information:

Ad Hoc Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Coho Workgroup to hold online meeting October 13-14, 2021

September 16, 2021 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council) Ad Hoc Southern Oregon Northern California Coast (SONCC) Coho Workgroup (Workgroup) will host an online meeting that is open to the public. The online meeting will be held Wednesday and Thursday, October 13-14, 2021, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, or until business for the day has been completed.

Please see the SONCC Coho Workgroup October 2021 meeting notice on the Pacific Council’s website for the purpose of the online work session.

For further information:

 

NMFS announces draft EIS available for deep-set buoy gear authorization, Amendment 6 to the HMS FMP

August 23, 2021 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

NOAA Fisheries announces the release of a draft environmental impact statement (EIS), in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, which includes an analysis of the potential short- and long-term impacts of the proposed action to authorize fishing with deep-set buoy gear (DSBG) in federal waters off the U.S. West Coast, on the human (biological, physical, social, and economic) environment.

Please see the public notice on the Council’s website for a link to the Draft EIS and additional details.

For further information, please contact:

  • NOAA Fisheries:  Amber Rhodes at (562) 477-8342, Amber.Rhodes@noaa.gov
  • Pacific Council staff officer Dr. Kit Dahl at 503-820-2422; toll-free 1-866-806-7204.