The Council discussed the relative priority and scheduling of previously tasked projects (see revised 3 meeting outlook), as well as the following issues.
- The Council received an update from staff about snow crab data requested in April, which will be available on the Council’s webpage during the course of the summer.
- Staff also provided an update on ongoing progress with the BSAI Halibut ABM PSC analysis, which is on track for initial review in October. The Council requested staff convene an educational webinar prior to the October Council meeting.
- The State of Alaska also noticed stakeholders that the Deputy Commissioner and Extended Jurisdiction staff are continuing to develop State positions on management structure in the BSAI and GOA fisheries, and will be reaching out to stakeholders throughout the summer.
The Council directed staff to develop and send several letters:
- To NMFS, to request prioritization of the processing backlog of recent Chinook salmon scales that are used for age-length keys.
- To legislative staff, in response to their request to provide comments on the “Forage Fish Conservation Act” bill.
- To NMFS and the Department of Justice, recommending that the U.S. District Court’s decision on Amendment 113 be appealed.
- To Rear Admiral Bell and the U.S. Coast Guard, thanking him for attending the Council meeting and for Coast Guard efforts to add assets to their Alaska capability.
- To the US Army Corps of Engineers, comment letter on the Draft EIS for Pebble Mine
Committees and advisory groups:
- The Council issued solicitations for a processor representative on the Trawl EM Committee, two new entrant permit holders for the Cook Inlet Salmon Committee, and new seats for the IFQ Committee to represent crew and those looking to acquire quota share.
- The Council will also issue solicitations for the Bering Sea FEP Action Module Taskforces for Climate Change and LK/TK/Subsistence.
- The Council appointed Julie Kavanaugh to the Fishery Monitoring Advisory Committee.
- The Council Chair noted that there will be upcoming changes to Council member Committee chairship appointments, to accommodate changing membership on the Council.
- The Council also tasked staff to bring back a strategic look at the relative roles and responsibilities of the Fishery Monitoring Advisory Committee, its subgroup, and the Trawl EM Committee, to ensure that each group understands its relative objectives and scope, and is appropriately constituted to address them.
