The Febuary 7-13th 2007 NPFMC Meeting Agenda- Portland, Oregon

[Keith Davis]

Hello Observers and the Likely Sorts,

The North Pacific Fisheries Management Council is having it's quarterly meeting in Portland, Oregon from February 7th-13th, 2007. I am attaching their agenda for any and all to review, and to hopefully spring some interest in attending and possibly commenting during their proceedings. By chance, I was able to attend their last meeting held in Dutch Harbor in September for a few hours. There, I was actually able to discuss a few observer-related topics with Bill Karp (the NP regional Observer Program head) and a few of the council members on a n informal basis.

Although this forthcoming meeting may not be directly dealing with observer program issues, they will be discussing several topics that will assuredly directly effect the jobs that observers do. For instance, here are some topics this agenda states that the meeting will address: AFA Pollock COOPs, Seabird Interactions, Rockfish Management, Salmon Bycatch, Aleutian Island Habitat Conservation, and the ever popular (or un-popular) Crab Rationalization. All of these topics may have some impact on observers and our jobs and the experience may help you understand your job from a different perspective.

So, if you happen to be in the area or can make the trip down to Portland for a few days, please check out this forthcoming meeting. And, if you do, the APO would love to get some feedback if you feel comfortable in doing so. you may even wish to "Testify" at the meeting, but please sign up before hand if you wish to do that. If you have any questions regarding the NPFMC meeting agenda, please contact Maria Shawback- Maria.Shawback@noaa.gov .

[Mark Wormington]

Before the Council sessions begin in Portland on Feb. 7 there are 2 days of open committee meetings of the SSC and AP on Monday and Tuesday, Feb 5 and 6. There are further overlapping meetings on the 7th.

The Science and Stats Committee will address groundfish management Monday morning 02/05 in the Cambridge/Oxford room of Benson Hotel (downtown Portland) shortly after 8:00 a.m. Also, Wednesday after 1:00 p.m. the SSC has the AI Fishery Ecosystem Plan on its agenda.

The industry-dominated AP also meets Feb. 5-7 in the Crystal Ballroom of the Benson. Habitat Conservation is on AP's agenda Wednesday after 1:00 p.m.

It can only help if more observers and NOAA employees would take advantage of these educational opportunities.