The Council heard a report from the newly formed Social Science Planning team (SSPT), which hosted its first in-person meeting May 8th and 9th. 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. The SSC provided feedback on the meeting report, and the Council asked SSPT members to review and consider SSC comments at their interim teleconference (likely in November). For instance, the SSC suggested the SSPT refine and clarify its scope and meeting goals, consider and define its policy on making recommendations (i.e., voting or consensus-based), and incorporation of public testimony. The Council also tasked SSPT members to develop a term of reference for operations and additionally review whether other Regional Fishery Management Councils have bodies that work to incorporate social and economic information into decision-making.
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. Additional information is described on Call for Nominations.
Staff contact is Sarah Marrinan.
