The Council announces the appointment of David Witherell as its Executive Director, taking over the helm from Chris Oliver who moved on to be the Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries. Mr. Witherell has worked for the Council for 25 years, and has been the Deputy Director since 2002. Council Chairman Dan Hull notes that “David… Read More →
Chris Oliver heads NOAA Fisheries in Washington DC
After 27 years working for the NPFMC – 15 of them as Executive Director – Chris Oliver is headed to Washington DC. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, with concurrence from the White House, selected Oliver as the new Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries. Coming from Texas A&M, Oliver joined the Council in 1990 as a… Read More →
Joint IPHC and Council Meet
The Council met jointly with the IPHC on June 8 to discuss several issues of mutual concern. Status reports were given on specific management actions and research priorities, and views of individual members were expressed. The Council noted that occasional meetings with the IPHC can be useful when focused on specific issues directly related to… Read More →
Thanks to CDQ Groups
Participating CDQ groups hosted a dinner during the Council week. Crab, halibut, sablefish, shrimp and oysters were prepared perfectly, and enhanced by fresh, homemade salads and desserts. The dinner provided a great opportunity for those involved in the Council process to relax in a beautiful setting, enjoy superb food, and engage in lively conversation. Many… Read More →
Observer Issues
The Council reviewed the 2016 Annual Report for the North Pacific Observer Program, and made recommendations for the 2018 Annual Deployment Plan (ADP), which will be developed over the summer. The Annual Report provides a scientific evaluation of the deployment of observers in 2016, to assess whether the objectives of the Observer Program have been… Read More →
Lead Level 2 Observers
The Council took final action to recommend a regulatory change expanding the ways that an eligible observer can qualify to become a fixed gear lead level 2 (LL2) observer. This action is intended to address the potential for a shortage of fixed-gear LL2 observers for deployment on freezer longline vessels, or other fixed gear vessels… Read More →
IFQ Leasing by CDQ Groups
The Council took final action to approve a regulatory amendment that would allow CDQ groups the opportunity to lease Area 4B, 4C, and 4D halibut IFQ in years where the catch limits are below certain thresholds. In Area 4B, this option would become available to the groups if the catch limit was 1 million pounds… Read More →
BSAI Yellowfin Sole Trawl Limited Access
At this meeting, the Council took final action to limit access for trawl catcher vessels targeting Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) trawl limited access sector (TLAS) yellowfin sole for delivery of its catch to a mothership or catcher processor. Specifically, the Council is recommending that a catcher vessel may target the BSAI TLAS yellowfin… Read More →
Halibut Abundance-Based PSC Management
The Council reviewed a discussion paper on development of abundance-based approaches for BSAI halibut PSC limits. This builds upon previous work to provide the information necessary for the Council to develop abundance-based PSC limit alternatives for analysis. Following review of some specific aspects of the indices and plans for the next discussion paper, the Council… Read More →
Squid Reclassification
The Council took final action on an EA/RIR/IRFA to reclassify squid species under the BSAI and GOA groundfish fishery management plans. Options for classification and management of non-target stocks under National Standard 1 guidelines for FMPs include identification of the species as “non-target species in need of conservation and management,” or as “non-target ecosystem component… Read More →
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