The Council‘s Ecosystem Committee provides advice on specific Council analyses, considers North Pacific management in the light of national ecosystem discussions, and suggests new ways for the Council to engage in ecosystem-based management. Staff contact is Steve MacLean.
Items of interest
- Council motion on Essential Fish Habitat Descriptions, Motion October 2016
- Status of NPFMC Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management Development Process and Actions, May 2014
- Council’s Ecosystem Approach Vision Statement, adopted February 2014
- Council motion on Ecosystem Committee path forward, February 2013
Meetings
2017
- September 22, 2017: 9 AM – 5 PM, Traynor Rm – AFSC Seattle, Washington
- AGENDA
- EBFM Papers
- Arctic Fishery Papers
- April 4, 2017: 9 AM – 5 PM, Chart Room Floor 15 – Hilton Hotel Anchorage
2016
- December 7, 2016: 9 AM – 12 PM, Hilton Hotel, Teleconference (907) 271-2896
- October 3, 2016: 12 PM – 5 PM, Hilton Hotel, Lupine Room. Join at https://npfmc.adobeconnect.com/eco-10-3/ Teleconference (907) 271-6368
- October 4, 2016: 9 AM – 12 PM, 605 West 4th Ave, Room 205, Anchorage. Join at https://npfmc.adobeconnect.com/eco-10-4/ Teleconference (907) 271-6368
- Minutes
- AGENDA
- Draft Fishing Effects Methods 9/12/16
- Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management Policy DRAFT 9/9/15
- Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management Policy FINAL 5/23/16
- Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Roadmap Comments 7/12/2016
- Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Roadmap For Public Comments 8/17/16
- Impacts to Essential Fish Habitat from Non-fishing Activities in Alaska – Initial Review Draft 9/20/16
- February 2, 2016: 1-5 pm, Benson Hotel, Portland, OR
- AGENDA
- Minutes
- Groundfish Policy Workplan presentation
2015
- October 29-30, 2015: 1-5 pm October 29 and 9 am-12 noon October 30; 222 West 7th Ave, Anchorage, AK. Teleconference available by calling (907) 271-6368
- Agenda
- BS FEP discussion paper 10/22/15
- Minutes 10/15
- August 6-7, 9 am – 5 pm, Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute, Juneau, AK. Teleconference available by dialing (907) 586-7002
- March 17-18 Workshop, Seattle, WA: agenda / minutes; appendices: Ecosystem Committee FEP approach, FEP Goals and Objectives
- USCG PARS presentation, packet;
- EFH presentation, SSC discussion in Feb 2015;
- Deep Sea Corals presentation;
- Bering Sea subsistence synthesis presentation
- Lenfest FEP Taskforce update;
- AFSC presentations on EBM science – Aydin, Holsman, Zador, Ortiz (video)
- BS FEP synthesis of comments, approach/next steps
2014
- September agenda / report; BS FEP (materials: Staff synthesis; Public comment – Nome, ICC, Marx; Lenfest FEP taskforce fact sheet; Pacific Council FEP); Ecosystem action plan; EFH 5 year review (2014 EFH research); Updates (National ocean acidification report; Science Advisory Board letter and report; AIRA draft summary report; US Corps of Engineers Nome update)
- April agenda / report; BS Canyons, PSEIS SIR, EFH 5 year review, updates
- February agenda / report; Ecosystem vision statement (Council motion), BS FEP, updates
2013
- December agenda / report; EBM vision statement
- September workshop agenda / report; EBM vision statement, AI FEP, Arctic FMP, BS Corals, BS research closures; Presentations: Kurland, Lederhouse, Dugan, Sigler, Ayers, Zador, Ianelli, Aydin, Fluharty, Levin, Tweit
- June agenda / report; BS canyons, MONF3 update, EBM workshop
- March teleconference report; Norton Sound mining/EFH
- February agenda / report; BBRKC, AI risk assessment, deep sea corals, Norton Sound mining/EFH, EBM planning (Council motion)
2012
- March agenda/report EFH consultation process, EBM planning
- January agenda/report Skate HAPC, BBRKC/EFH, deep sea coral research
2011
- March agenda/report EFH amendments, BBRKC/EFH, EBM planning
- February agenda/report EFH amendments, Skate HAPC, sablefish habitat conservation, NBSRA research plan, EBM planning
2010
- April agenda/report EFH 5 yr review, HAPC process, AIET terms of reference, NBSRA research plan
- January – joint meeting with Aleutian Islands Ecosystem Team – Agenda/Report; AI FEP, national CMSP framework
2009
2008
- September meeting, Anchorage, AK– Agenda/Report; Arctic FMP, AI FEP, AMEF update
- May meeting, Seattle, WA– Agenda/Report; Arctic FMP, AI FEP, NOAA Integrated Services Plan
- February, Seattle, WA– Agenda/Report; Arctic FMP, AI FEP, AMEF and other updates
2007
- August meeting, Juneau, AK– Agenda/Report; Arctic FMP, AI FEP, AMEF and other updates
- May meeting, AFSC, Seattle, WA– Agenda/Report; AI FEP
- February meeting, Portland, OR– Agenda/Report; AI FEP
2006
- October teleconference– Agenda/Report AMEF, Natl Ocean Research Priorities, AI FEP
- May meeting in Seattle– Agenda/Report; AI FEP, AMEF and other updates
- February meeting in Seattle– Agenda/Report; AMEF, AI FEP
2005
- December meeting in Anchorage– Agenda/Report; AMEF, MSA reauthorization, AI FEP, other updates
- June meeting in Girdwood– Agenda/Report; AMEF, AI FEP, EAM updates
- April meeting in Anchorage– Agenda/Report; MONF2, AFSC ecosystem updates, AMEF, AI FEP
- March teleconference– Agenda/Report; MONF2, AMEF
- February meeting in Seattle– Agenda/Report; Committee mission statement, review of national materials
History
The Council founded its Ecosystem Committee in 1996, with then-Council member Dr. Dave Fluharty as chairman. Its purpose was to provide advice to the Council, to serve as an educational forum on ecosystem issues, to interact with the groundfish Plan Teams and to provide direction and feedback for specific ecosystem related research projects. Over the next few years, the Committee developed a working definition of ecosystem-based management in the context of the NPFMC, provided advice on the Council’s essential fish habitat (EFH) actions, and provided direction for the development of the Ecosystem Considerations chapter in the annual groundfish Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation reports.
In 2004, the Council reconstituted its Ecosystem Committee with a new membership, and then-Council Chair Ms. Stephanie Madsen as chair. The committee’s mission statement was to discuss current ecosystem-related initiatives and assist in shaping Council positions relative to:
- defining ecosystem-based management;
- structure and Council role in potential regional ecosystem councils;
- implications of NOAA strategic plan;
- draft guidelines for ecosystem-based approaches to management;
- draft MSA provisions or requirements relative to ecosystem-based management; and
- generally coordinating with NOAA and other initiatives regarding ecosystem-based management.
During the next several years, the Committee was instrumental in the development of Aleutian Islands Fishery Ecosystem Plan (AI FEP), and the memorandum of understanding creating the Alaska Marine Ecosystem Forum. The Committee also advised the Council on the Arctic Fishery Management Plan (FMP), EFH, and habitat of particular concern (HAPC) issues.
In February 2013, the Council once again rearticulated the Committee’s purpose, and added two new members to the Committee, including a new chairman, Council member Bill Tweit. In response to Committee discussions, the Council requested the Committee both to continue to provide advice on immediate Council issues, but also to take a longer-term view of how the Council could take a leadership role in the continuing evolution of ecosystem-based management (EBM).
