Trawl EM Committee (formerly Workgroup) – processing representative
In April 2018, the Council reconstituted the EM Workgroup, which provides a forum for collaboration on EM development between industry, agencies, and EM service providers, to focus on trawl EM implementation. The group met in May, but is currently lacking a representative from the processing sector, and dockside monitoring may be an important component of the development of a trawl EM program. The trawl EM Workgroup’s next meeting is tentatively scheduled for August 13-14, in Seattle. If you are interested in joining the trawl EM Workgroup as a representative from the processing sector, please send a letter of interest to Elizabeth Figus at the Council office by noon on July 13, 2018 (elizabeth.figus@noaa.gov; 907-271-2801).
Social Science Planning Team – expertise in local and traditional knowledge
The Council is seeking nominations for additional membership for the SSPT to add expertise in Local and Traditional Knowledge and those who work directly with rural and Alaska Native coastal villages and/or tribal organizations in the fields of anthropology, human geography, and sociology. The purpose of the SSPT is to provide inter-agency support to improve the quality and application of social science data that informs management decision-making and program evaluation, and to strategize medium- and long-term improvements in data collection and analytical methodology. As described in the SSPT charter proposal, membership shall generally be limited to affiliates of public organizations and academic institutions. A resumé or curriculum vitae and letter of intent should be submitted to Sarah Marrinan at the Council office by noon Alaska time, September 28, 2018. The Council’s intent is to review applications and make appointments at the October Council meeting. More information on the Social Science Planning Team, and its current membership, can be found here.
Community Engagement Committee
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is soliciting nominations for membership on the newly-formed Community Engagement Committee. The Committee’s goals are to assist the Council in developing successful engagement and outreach tools and processes, to facilitate improved communication and understanding between rural communities and tribes and the Council. The committee will not develop specific policy recommendations. The Committee’s charter is:
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Community Engagement Committee is established to identify and recommend strategies for the Council and Council staff to enact processes that provide effective community engagement with rural and Alaska Native Communities. Effective community engagement may involve two-way communication between the Council and communities at additional stages of the Council process or a project and allow for community concerns, information, perspectives, and priorities to be shared clearly with the Council, whether part of an active Council action or not.
Nominations are encouraged from full-time residents of rural or tribal communities and those with specific expertise in rural and tribal communications. To submit a nomination, please send a letter of interest and brief resume to Steve MacLean (steve.maclean@noaa.gov) at the Council office. Nominations will be accepted until September 28, 2018 at noon (12:00 PM). Committee members will be appointed by the Council chair at the October Council meeting in Anchorage, AK, with the first meeting tentatively sometime in the fall.