Ecosystem Committee

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.

Membership →

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

2018

July 24, 2018 – BS FEP Review, Anchorage, Alaska
June 5, 2018: 9AM – 5PM, Kodiak, Alaska
February 6, 2018: 8 AM – 5 PM, Marion Rm Renaissance Hotel Seattle, Washington

2017

September 22, 2017: 9 AM – 5 PM, Traynor Rm – AFSC Seattle, Washington
- AGENDA
- Minutes
- EBFM Papers
  - NOAA Science Advisory Board Report – 2014
  - NOAA Response to SAB Report
- Arctic Fishery Papers
  - Van Pelt et al. 2017
  - Arctic CAO Compilation Report
April 4, 2017: 9 AM – 5 PM, Chart Room Floor 15 – Hilton Hotel Anchorage

January 31, 2017: 8 AM – 12 PM, Marion Room Renaissance Hotel
- AGENDA
- Minutes

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

April 4, 2016: 9:30 AM – 5 PM, Old Federal Building Room 205, Anchorage, AK
- AGENDA
- Minutes

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
- Agenda, Minutes
- BS FEP Discussion Paper
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

December Agenda/Report; AK– MPA framework nominations, Ocean Policy Framework and MSP, EFH 5 yr review, HAPC process, NBSRA research plan
February Agenda/Report; Arctic FMP

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).