In order for you to provide input to help shape the North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program, there will be an outreach meeting in Kodiak conducted with representatives of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

Vessels and processors of all sizes are welcome and encouraged to come!

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is restructuring the current observer program for harvesters in federally-managed Alaskan fisheries. The proposed restructured industry-funded coverage includes vessels under 60 feet participating in the halibut, sablefish, and cod fisheries, as well as processors.

Some of the questions to be answered include: Will under 60 foot vessels be required to carry observers? How will the observer program deploy observers across all fisheries, vessel classes, and processors? Will cameras be part of the new program? How will fees be collected for a new observer program? How much will it cost? Will there be increased observer coverage for all vessels? How will processors be covered?

May 25th-26th: Observer Advisory Committee (OAC) meeting, Seattle.

June 7th: Initial review of observer program for restructuring, Sitka.

October 4th: Final action of observer program restructuring, Anchorage.

For more information, contact:

Theresa Peterson, Alaska Marine Conservation Council - 486-2991, theresa@akmarine.org

Jeff Stephan, United Fishermen's Marketing Association - 486-3453, jstephan@ptialaska.net

Julie Bonney, Alaska Groundfish Data Bank - 486-3033, jbonney@gci.net