Habitat and communities blog

PFMC Announces Request for Proposals to Modify Pacific Coast Groundfish EFH

Saturday, May 4th, 2013

The PFMC announces a Request for Proposals to modify Pacific Coast groundfish essential fish habitat. The Council’s Essential Fish Habitat Review Committee has completed Phase 1 of the EFH review, and will consider proposals during Phase 2.

The following documents should be used as a basis for any proposals to modify groundfish EFH:

  1. EFHRC Phase 1 Report, Including Addendum
  2. EFH Data Portal
  3. NMFS Synthesis Report
  4. NMFS Synthesis Report Appendices

Please refer to the RFP for any further questions.

Posted in Groundfish, Groundfish, Habitat and communities, Habitat and communities

Registration Now Open for Managing Our Nation’s Fisheries 3 Conference

Tuesday, January 15th, 2013

Registration is now open for the third Managing Our Nation’s Fisheries conference, to be held May 7-9, 2013 in Washington, D.C., with a welcome reception on the evening of May 6. The conference is convened by the eight Regional Fishery Management Councils and hosted by the Pacific Fishery Management Council.

This conference follows up on the highly successful Managing Our Nation’s Fisheries conferences held in 2003 and 2005. Managing Our Nation’s Fisheries 3 will focus on how concepts, policies, and practice of fishery sustainability can be advanced to a higher level. Sessions will be of interest to members of the public, fishery participants, environmental advocates, fishery scientists and managers, policymakers, legislators, and journalists.

The discussion will address Magnuson-Stevens Act reauthorization issues, as well as adjustments to current management that do not require legislation to implement. The conference will provide a forum for information exchange and an opportunity to hear a wide range of perspectives on the sustainability of fish stocks and ecosystem functions, and the fishing communities that depend on them.

For more information, see the conference website.

Posted in Coastal pelagic species, Council Meetings, Council operations, Ecosystem-based management, Groundfish, Habitat and communities, Habitat and communities, Highly migratory species, Hot topics, Marine Reserves, Pacific halibut, Salmon

November 2012 Council Meeting Internet Live Audio Stream

Thursday, October 18th, 2012

The November 3-7, 2012 meeting of the Pacific Fishery Management Council will be streamed live on the internet. The live audio will be broadcast starting on Saturday, November 3 at 8 a.m. Pacific time. Get the November meeting agenda.

To Listen to the Meeting

To listen, follow the agenda, and view the powerpoint presentations, go to the PFMC Live Meeting link. Please provide your name and email address when you join the meeting (this will expedite any technical assistance if the need arises).

Alternate Instructions to Join the Meeting

If you are unable to join the meeting through the above link, then please follow these steps:

  1. Copy this address and paste it into your web browser:
    https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/pacificfishery/join (This Will Launch the “launch.rtc” file if Microsoft Office Live Meeting is installed on your computer; or you may have to choose “Accept Terms and Install Client” if it is not already installed.)
  2. Enter the Following Information:
    • Meeting ID: K2GBHN
    • Entry Code: (Leave This Field Blank)
    • Location: Choose the following:
      https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/pacificfishery
  3. Choose “Join”

Technical Contact

For more information on how to use the Microsoft Live Meeting live streaming service, please see the Quick Reference Guide. You may also send an email to Sandra for additional assistance.

For MacIntosh — If you have never installed the “Live Meeting Web Access Client” on your workstation, please email Sandra.Krause@noaa.gov for those instructions. Please note, the “Live Meeting Web Access Client” does not provide for audio, but you may view the PowerPoint presentations and the agenda flow of the meeting.

MP3 Audio Files

If you need your own personal audio copies of recorded Council meeting CDs (MP3 or WAV formats), please contact our recorder, Mr. Craig Hess, Martin Enterprises, phone (360) 749-4038. Mr. Hess would be glad to assist you.

Posted in Coastal pelagic species, Council Meetings, Council operations, Ecosystem-based management, Groundfish, Groundfish, Habitat and communities, Highly migratory species, Pacific halibut, Salmon

Habitat Committee Will Meet June 12, 2012

Friday, May 18th, 2012

The Pacific Fishery Management Council will convene a public meeting of the Habitat Committee (HC).

The purpose of the Habitat Committee meeting is to discuss habitat issues related to Council-managed fisheries, including Columbia River fisheries issues, the NOAA Habitat Blueprint, and the Council’s development of a Fishery Ecosystem Plan. The HC may also discuss forage fish issues, Army Corps of Engineers levee vegetation policies, ocean energy proposals, and Klamath River water issues. A report is scheduled to be presented to the Pacific Council at the June, 2012 Council meeting in San Mateo, California. Other issues relevant to habitat may be addressed as time permits.

The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 12, and will conclude at 5:00 p.m. or until business for the day is completed.

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

For more information regarding the HC meeting, please contact  Ms. Jennifer Gilden at 503-820-2280, ext. 418; toll free 1-866-806-7204.

The 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.

Posted in Habitat and communities, Habitat and communities, Meetings and Events

April 2012 Briefing Book Available Online

Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

The Briefing Book for the April 2012 Council meeting has been posted to the Council’s website on the “Current Briefing Book” webpage. The Briefing Book contains “situation summaries” (brief summaries that provide background for each agenda item), reports and materials for each agenda item, and written public comment.

Posted in Council Meetings, Council operations, Ecosystem-based management, Groundfish, Habitat and communities, Hot topics, Pacific halibut, Salmon, Salmon

Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat Review Committee to Hold Work Session

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Council) Ad Hoc Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat Review Committee (EFHRC) will hold a work session January 17-18, 2012.  The meeting will be held in Portland, Oregon, and is open to the public.

The purpose of the work session is to continue developing the Phase I report on the review of information relevant to EFH for Pacific Coast groundfish stocks.  The Phase I report is designed to compile new and newly-available information, and compare it with the suite of information that was used to establish the current groundfish EFH designations.  The EFHRC is scheduled to report to the Council at its April 1-6, 2012 meeting in Seattle, Washington.

Dates/times: January 17-18, 2012.  Start times are 10:00 a.m. the first day, and 8:30 a.m. the second day.  The meeting will continue until 5:00 p.m. or until business is concluded each day.

The meeting will be held in Portland at the following location:

Embassy Suites Portland Airport
7900 NE 82nd Avenue
Pine II Room
Portland, OR 97220
Telephone: 503-460-3000
Driving Directions

Additional Information

The 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, please contact Mr. Kerry Griffin at (503) 820-2280 ext. 409.


A draft agenda and other materials will be available in advance of the work session.

Posted in Groundfish, Groundfish, Habitat and communities, Habitat and communities

November 2011 Briefing Book Available on Website

Tuesday, October 18th, 2011

The Briefing Book for the November 2011 Council meeting has been posted to the Council’s website on the “Current Briefing Book” webpage. The Briefing Book contains “situation summaries” (brief summaries that provide background for each agenda item), reports and materials for each agenda item, and written public comment.

Posted in Council Meetings, Council operations, Ecosystem-based management, Habitat and communities, Highly migratory species, Hot topics, Pacific halibut, Salmon

West Coast Strategic Action Plan Listening Sessions

Monday, June 20th, 2011

On July 19, 2010, President Obama announced his commitment to implementing the first National Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the Great Lakes. The National Ocean Council has been developing Strategic Action Plans to achieve nine national priority objectives that address some of the most pressing challenges facing these areas (see http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/oceans/objectives).

The National Ocean Council recently released draft Strategic Action Plan outlines for the nine priority objectives, and they are accepting comments on these content outlines during a 30-day public comment period. In addition, the National Ocean Council is organizing regional public listening sessions to provide opportunities for input early on the drafting process for the nine Strategic Action Plans. The draft outlines are available here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/oceans/sap.

Three West Coast regional listening sessions are scheduled. The date, time, and locations for the three West Coast listening sessions are as follows:

Please note, that for planning purposes, you are encouraged to register online in advance. Advance registration closes June 22 for Ocean Shores and June 24 for San Francisco and Portland. Day of registration will be available at all sites.

Please pre-register by visiting: http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/registration/west_coast_sap.cfm

Posted in Habitat and communities, Habitat and communities, Marine Reserves, Other Fisheries Forums

World Ocean’s Day

Thursday, April 28th, 2011

On June 8th, celebrate “World Ocean’s Day”. See the World Ocean’s Day website on how to get involved. This year’s theme is “Youth: The Next Wave for Change”.

Posted in Ecosystem-based management, Habitat and communities, Other Fisheries Forums

NMFS Northwest Fisheries Science Center Issues Data Call for Pacific Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat Review

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is asking all interested parties to provide new and updated information related to essential fish habitat (EFH) for Pacific coast groundfish. This data call is part of the process required by NMFS and the Pacific Fishery Management Council to periodically review EFH guidelines of their fishery management plans and to revise these provisions based on available information. Review the data call guidelines.

Relevant and emerging information is being solicited during the period March through July 1, 2011, and can be submitted either through email or postal service:

Groundfish EFH Data Call
NOAA Fisheries NWFSC
2032 SE OSU Drive
Newport, OR 97365
Or you may email your comments to: groundfishEFH@noaa.gov

If you have questions about this solicitation, please contact:

Posted in Groundfish, Groundfish, Habitat and communities, Habitat and communities

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