Two Scientific and Statistical Committee Subcommittee Meetings Scheduled

Meeting Dates: August 31-September 2, 2009

Two meetings will be held to review a new assessment for petrale sole and develop control rules for specifying scientific uncertainty buffers in acceptable biological catch (ABC) specifications for groundfish and coastal pelagic species (CPS). The first meeting will be attended by the Groundfish Subcommittee of the Pacific Fishery Management Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) to review a new assessment for petrale sole. Further, the SSC Groundfish Subcommittee will consider the scientific basis for considering estimated or alternative proxy target biomass levels or fishing mortality rates for petrale sole and other west coast flatfish stocks. The second meeting will be attended by the Groundfish and CPS Subcommittees of the SSC to develop new control rules for deciding scientific uncertainty buffers for groundfish and CPS species compliant with new National Standard 1 guidelines. Both meetings are work sessions which are open to the public.

The SSC Groundfish Subcommittee meeting to review the new petrale sole assessment will be held beginning at 8:30 a.m., Monday, August 31, 2009 and will end at 5:30 p.m. or as necessary to complete business. The SSC Groundfish and CPS Subcommittees meeting to develop control rules for scientific uncertainty buffers for groundfish and CPS species will be held beginning at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, September 1, 2009. The meeting will continue on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 beginning at 8:30 a.m. The meeting will end at 5:30 p.m. each day, or as necessary to complete business.

Both meetings will be at the following location:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Western Regional Center's Sand Point Facility
Alaska Fisheries Science Center
Building 4
Traynor Room
7600 Sand Point Way N.E.
Seattle, Washington 98115-6349
Contact: Ms. Julie Pearce, Telephone - 206-526-6548

Entry to the NOAA Western Regional Center's Sand Point Facility requires visitors to show a valid picture ID and register with security. A visitor's badge, which must be worn while at the NOAA Western Regional Center's Facility, will be issued to non-Federal employees participating in the meeting. Non-U.S. citizens will require advance security clearance and should call (206) 526-6548 at least two days prior to the meeting date.

The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Ms. Carolyn Porter at (503) 820-2280 at least five days prior to the meeting date.

For more information on the Scientific and Statistical Committee Subcommittee Meetings, please contact Mr. John DeVore at (503) 820-2280 or toll free 1-866-806-7204.

PFMC
07/28/09