NPFMC Salmon Bycatch Committee Formed

Photo courtesy Terese Schomogyi/KRITFC.

Congratulations to KRITFC Chair Mike Williams Sr., Executive Director Kevin Whitworth, and others for their appointments to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council’s new Salmon Bycatch Committee, called for by the NPFMC in June 2022 after abundant testimony by subsistence fishermen and others asking to be more included in the Council process. Quyana, Tsen’ahn to Mike and Kevin for your work protecting the subsistence salmon rights and way of life of our Kuskokwim communities.

Here is the announcement, reposted from the NPFMC’s website:

“The Council appointed members to the newly formed Salmon Bycatch Committee, which will hold its first meeting on November 28, 2022. The NPFMC Salmon Bycatch Committee will be co-chaired by two Council members, Andy Mezirow and Rachel Baker. Members and their affiliations are listed below. The November meeting will provide an opportunity for Committee introductions, review of a draft Terms of Reference for the Committee, review and recommendations on the Council staff discussion paper on chum salmon bycatch, and if possible, review of the State of Alaska Bycatch Taskforce recommendations on salmon. 

Rachel Baker (co-chair) – Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Ruth Christiansen – United Catcher Boats
Oscar Evon – Coastal Villages Region Fund
Serena Fitka – Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association
Jennifer Hooper – Association of Village Council Presidents
Mellisa Johnson – Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Tribal Consortium
Stephanie Madsen – At-Sea Processors Association
Andy Mezirow (co-chair) Gray Light Fisheries
Elizabeth Reed – Westward Fishing Company
Steve Ricci – Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation
Kevin Whitworth – Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
Mike Williams, Sr. – Akiak

For more information, please contact Council staff Dr. Diana Stram – diana.stram@noaa.gov.”

The Salmon Bycatch Committee’s meetings are open to the public:

• WHEN: Monday, November 28, 2022 @ 9am–3pm

• AGENDA: View here.

• TO JOIN: Join by computer/with video here or by phone at +1 346 248 7799 or +1 408 638 0968 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782. Meeting ID: 823 5560 9994. Passcode: NPFMC.

• HOW TO ENGAGE: Submit written public comments online by November 27 @ 5pm. There is no opportunity for verbal public comment during this meeting. Stay tuned for more information about testifying on salmon bycatch at the upcoming December NPFMC meeting!