Updates

Press Release: Pacific Fishery Management Council named Merrick Burden as new Executive Director


Portland, OR – The Pacific Fishery Management Council named Mr. Merrick Burden as the new Executive Director for the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Mr. Chuck Tracy, the current Executive Director, will retire in December.


“We believe Merrick’s topical expertise, previous Director experience, and his in‐depth knowledge of the issues facing the Council will allow for a seamless transition as the Council deals with important ongoing issues,” said Council Chair, Marc Gorelnik. “We are convinced he will be able to motivate the Council staff to continue their high level of performance and enable the Council to take on future challenges successfully.” Mr. Burden’s appointment is effective November 15. For the last six years, he has been serving as the Senior Director for Resilient Fisheries and the Lead Senior Economist at the Environmental Defense Fund in Seattle, WA.


Mr. Burden has a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Linfield College and a master’s degree in Environmental and Resource Economics from Oregon State University. In addition to his work with the Environmental Defense Fund, he has worked as Executive Director for the Marine Conservation Alliance, as a Groundfish Staff Officer for the Pacific Fishery Management Council, as Industry Economist for the National Marine Fisheries Service, and as an analyst for Northern Economics, Inc.

Council Role


The Pacific Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional fishery management councils established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 for the purpose of managing fisheries miles offshore of the United States of America coastline. The Pacific Council recommends management measures for fisheries off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington.

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Salmon Technical Team to hold joint online meeting with Salmon Subcommittee of the Scientific and Statistical Committee and Model Evaluation Workgroup October 20-21, 2021

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Notice of a Public Meeting: Council Coordination Committee

The Pacific Fishery Management Council is hosting a webinar meeting of the Council Coordination Committee (CCC) consisting of the eight Regional Fishery Management Council chairs, vice chairs, executive directors and its subcommittees. The October 19-21, 2021 webinar will be held from 10:30 a.m. PDT to 2:30 p.m. PDT each day. The webinar will be open to the public; please see the “CCC October 19-21, 2021” website for details.

2021: EM Regulation Delay and EFP Extension

In September 2021 the Council recommended that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) delay implementation of the groundfish electronic monitoring (EM) program for all trip types for at least two years, thereby establishing a start date for the use of EM on fishing trips to be no earlier than January 1, 2024. In addition, the Council recommended extending the use of existing EM exempted fishing permits (EFPs) through 2023 to collect additional information that will lead to a more successful, stable, and economically viable EM regulation.  The delay was implemented by NMFS under an interim final rule. The purpose of delaying implementation and extending the EFPs is twofold: first, to develop and test alternative catch handling protocols that are both cost effective for industry and provide sufficient monitoring and scientific data for NMFS, and second, to provide NMFS and the Council time to continue developing a permanent EM program funding mechanism that will further encourage widespread use of EM on the West Coast.  The Council will continue to work with NMFS, Pacific States marine Fisheries Commission, NMFS Alaska Region and North Pacific Fishery Management Council to examine the issues and schedule future Council meeting actions over the next two years.

Salmon Technical Team to hold joint online meeting with Salmon Subcommittee of the Scientific and Statistical Committee and Model Evaluation Workgroup October 20-21, 2021

This post was generated by and redirects to https://www.pcouncil.org/events/salmon-technical-team-to-hold-joint-online-meeting-with-salmon-subcommittee-of-the-scientific-and-statistical-committee-and-model-evaluation-workgroup-october-20-21-2021/.