Coastal Pelagic Species blog

NOAA Requests Comments on List of Gear by Fisheries and Fishery Management Council

Thursday, February 9th, 2012

NOAA is requesting comments on list of gear by fisheries and fishery management council. This is an extension of the currently approved information collection. The deadline for written comments is on or before April 9, 2012.

View the February 9, 2012 Federal Register notice announcing the extension.

The list has been published and appears in 50 CFR 600.725(v).

Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Paula Evans, NMFS Office of Sustainable Fisheries at (301) 427-8557 or Paula.Evans@noaa.gov.

Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat Review Committee to Hold Conference Call

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) will convene a conference call of its Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat Review Committee (EFHRC).  The primary purposes of the conference call are to discuss a draft request for proposals, and to continue planning for a report to the Pacific Council at its April 2012 meeting in Seattle, Washington.  Other topics may be discussed as time allows, at the discretion of the Chair.

The conference call will be held on Tuesday, February 28, 2012, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific Time.  A listening station will be made available to the public, in the Small Conference Room of the Council office:

Pacific Fishery Management Council
7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 101
Portland, Oregon 97220-1384
503-820-2280
Driving Directions

This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Mr. Kris Kleinschmidt at 503-820-2280 at least five days prior to the meeting date.

For further information about the EFHRC work session, please contact Mr. Kerry Griffin at 503-820-2280, ext. 409; toll free 1-866-806-7204.

Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel and Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team to Hold Conference Call

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) will convene a conference call of its Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel (CPSAS) and Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team (CPSMT).  The primary purposes of the meeting are to discuss an exempted fishing permit proposal for Pacific sardine, and to discuss minor revisions to the terms of reference documents guiding stock assessment reviews and methodology reviews.  The CPSAS and CPSMT may develop reports for the Pacific Council’s March 2012 meeting in Sacramento, California.  Other topics may be discussed as time allows, at the discretion of the CPSAS and CPSMT Chairs. These topics may include future meeting planning and an update on Pacific mackerel harvest.

The conference call will be held on Tuesday, February 28, 2012, from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

A listening station will be available at the following location:

Pacific Fishery Management Council
Small Conference Room
7700 NE Ambassador Place
Portland, OR 97220-1384
Telephone: 503-820-2280
Driving Directions

This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Mr. Kris Kleinschmidt at 503-820-2280 at least five days prior to the meeting date.

If you have additional questions regarding the conference call, please contact Mr. Kerry Griffin at 503-820-2280 ext. 409; toll free 1-866-806-7204.

Request for Nominations: At-Large Position on the Scientific and Statistical Committee

Thursday, January 12th, 2012

Request for Nominations for an At-Large Position on the Scientific and Statistical Committee

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is seeking qualified candidates to consider for an at-large position on its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). The successful candidate will serve out the remainder of the 2010-2012 Council advisory body term. Please see the Council’s Advisory Body Vacancies webpage for all the specifics. The deadline to submit nominations is February 8, 2012.

Request for Nominations: Conservation Position on the Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel

Monday, December 19th, 2011

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is seeking a qualified candidate to serve on its Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel (CPSAS) to represent the conservation community. The CPSAS consists of 10 members representing various commercial, recreational, and conservation stakeholders in the coastal pelagic fisheries along the west coast. The Council’s Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan includes management of anchovy, Pacific sardines, Pacific mackerel, jack mackerel, market squid, krill, Pacific herring, and jacksmelt. Please see the Council’s Advisory Body Vacancies webpage for all the specifics. The deadline to submit nominations is February 6, 2012.

Winter Newsletter Now Available

Thursday, December 8th, 2011

The Winter issue of the Pacific Council News is now available. Please visit the Council’s Newsletters webpage for details.

Northwest and Southwest Stakeholder Conference Call on NOAA’s Draft Enforcement Priorities

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

Special Agents in Charge Vicki Nomura and Don Masters of NOAA Office of Law Enforcement’s Northwest and Southwest Divisions, respectively, would like to invite you to participate in a conference call on Monday, December 12, 2011 to outline NOAA’s Draft Enforcement Priorities, which are open for public comment through January 9, 2012. The draft priorities document identifies the national priorities for Fiscal Year 2012 and gives examples of regional priorities that support those national priorities.

Conference Call Date and Time:

Monday, December 12, 2011
11 a.m. Pacific Standard Time
Dial-in: 888-469-2087
Verbal passcode: ENFORCEMENT WEST COAST

The document — as well as guidelines for commenting by the deadline via email, fax and mail — can be found on the NOAA OLE Enforcement Priorities website.

NOAA’s Draft Enforcement Priorities reflect extensive input and guidance from those of you who submitted comments last year as we began the process of identifying our national priorities. Regional priorities vary with the specific resources, activities, and threats across the country. What may be a high priority in one region may not be a priority in another. Equally, fish stocks, fishing gear, and management programs are not identical across the country. Thus, NOAA Office of Law Enforcement must tailor our priorities appropriately.

NOAA OLE looks forward to your participation in this conference call specifically for the Northwest and Southwest Divisions.

For further information, please contact:

Lesli Bales-Sherrod, Communications specialist
Lesli.Bales-Sherrod@noaa.gov
NOAA Office of Law Enforcement
8484 Georgia Ave., Suite 415
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: 301-427-2300 ext. 103

**This information has been posted as a courtesy to the Pacific Fishery Management Council family and constituents.**

Pacific Sardine CIE Report Now Available Upon Request

Thursday, November 17th, 2011

The Center for Independent Experts (CIE) made available the report from the October 2011 Pacific sardine STAR Panel meeting. Please contact Mr. Kerry Griffin, Kerry.Griffin@noaa.gov, or call 503-820-2280, ext. 409.

Fall Newsletter Now Available

Monday, October 24th, 2011

The Fall issue of the Pacific Council News is now available here. This issue covers new stock assessments, changes to the halibut catch sharing plan, dam removal, Columbia and Sacramento salmon updates, and more.

U.S. Coast Guard’s Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee to Meet

Thursday, October 20th, 2011

The U.S. Coast Guard’s Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee (CFSAC) will meet in Seattle, Washington to discuss various issues relating to safety in the commercial fishing industry. This meeting will be open to the public.

The CFSAC will meet on November 14, 2011, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on November 15–16, 2011, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. This meeting may close early if all business is finished.

Please read the October 20, 2011 Federal Register notice for meeting details. If you have further questions, please contact Mr. Jack Kemerer, Alternate Designated Federal Official of CFSAC, Commandant (CG–5433), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, at (202) 372–1249.