IPHC ANNUAL MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT

The Seventy-Second Annual Meeting of the International Pacific Halibut Commission will be held in Bellevue, Washington, Monday, January 22 through Thursday, January 25, 1996. The sessions will be held at Embassy Suites Hotel, 3225 158th Avenue, S.E., Bellevue, Washington 98008.

A block of rooms has been reserved for attendees at a special rate of $99.00 single or double (U.S.) Phone: (206) 644-2500, FAX: (206) 865-8065. All accommodations are two-room suites and include a complimentary full service breakfast, free parking, and a complimentary managers reception (free drinks and snacks) each evening in the lobby.

The Commission will distribute a brief summary of its stock assessment information and staff recommendations to conference board members, processors, and fisheries agencies in late December 1995. Requests for 1996 regulatory measures should be submitted to the Commission by late December, 1995. A summary of all recommendations will be distributed in early January, 1996.

Processor Involvement

There has been considerable discussion in recent months on how to incorporate the processors in the annual meeting process to assure that the Commission receives advice from this segment of the industry. As a result, the Commission agreed to recognize a Processor Advisory Group (PAG), in concept, which will serve to advise the Commission on issues related to the management of halibut resources in the North Pacific.

Meeting Schedule

Please note that the Public Session will be Monday morning and that the Conference Board and the PAG will begin their deliberations on Monday afternoon. This schedule will again allow, as last year, more time for discussion between the Commission and the Conference Board.

Monday, January 22 the Commission will meet in private session from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. From 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon the Commission will meet in a public session. At this session the Commission staff will present the results of recent research, summarize results of the 1995 halibut fishery, and present its regulatory proposals for the 1996 halibut fishery. Fishermen, vessel owners, processors, and all other interested parties are welcome to attend the public session and are encouraged to ask the Commission staff questions. From 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. the Commission will meet privately in an administrative session. In concurrent sessions the Conference Board and the PAG will discuss recommendations for the 1996 fishery.

Tuesday, January 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. the Commission will meet privately in an administrative session. The Conference Board and the PAG will also meet from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to continue their discussions on recommendations for the 1996 fishery.

Wednesday, January 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. the Conference Board and the PAG will present their reports to the Commission. From 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon the Commission will meet privately in an administrative session. From 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. the Commission will meet with the Conference Board and processors, if necessary.

Thursday, January 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon the Commission will meet with the public and make decisions regarding the 1996 fishery at this session.

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