By Council Staff(Edit)

Applications for the Council’s Advisory Panel Available

The Council is currently soliciting for alternates for the CNMI and Hawaii Advisory Panels.  Fishermen, members of fishery-related industries and individuals from fishery- or marine related organizations are invited to apply for membership to the Advisory Panel (AP) for the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council.

Each of the Advisory Panels includes representatives from commercial fisheries, recreational fisheries, subsistence and indigenous fisheries, and ecosystems and habitat who meet the following criteria:

• Present or recent activity in recreational, commercial or subsistence fishing;
• Present or recent involvement in the buying, processing or marketing sectors of the fishing industry and/or involvement in conservation or management organizations, fishing clubs or other organized groups concerned with marine or fisheries issues;
• Willingness to play an active role in fisheries management; and
• Ability to dedicate time for fishery document review and participate in panel meetings.

AP members provide advice to the Council on all aspects of the region’s fisheries and suggest management strategies.

The AP terms are for four years and have started on Jan. 1, 2019.  Positions are voluntary (not paid).  However, members may be reimbursed for certain expenses related to their participation in meetings.

Applications are being accepted electronically and can be found at https://forms.gle/ixxfSnyLVF8Wqy1V7   For those who may need other arrangements, please call the Council Office at (808) 522-8220 for assistance.  Completed applications must be received by the Council before May 31, 2019 to be considered for membership.

For more information, contact Joshua DeMello at the Council at Joshua.DeMello@noaa.gov or (808) 522-7493.