IPHC ANNUAL MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT

The Seventy Third Annual Meeting of the International Pacific Halibut Commission will be held in Victoria, British Columbia, Monday, January 27 through Thursday, January 30, 1997. The sessions will be held at The Empress Hotel and the adjoining Victoria Conference Center, 721 Government Street, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

A block of rooms has been reserved for attendees until December 26, 1996 at a special rate of $110.00 single or double (Canadian). Phone: (250) 384-8111 or 800-441-1414; FAX: (250) 381-4334.

The Commission will distribute a brief summary of its stock assessment information and staff recommendations to conference board members and fisheries agencies on December 11, 1996. This information will also be available on the Commission's web page at http://www.iphc.washington.edu. Requests for 1997 regulatory measures should be submitted to the Commission by December 15, 1996. A summary of all recommendations will be distributed in early January, 1997.

Meeting Schedule

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

Monday, January 27 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. 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. At this session the Commission staff will present the results of recent research, summarize results of the 1996 halibut fishery, and present its regulatory proposals for the 1997 halibut fishery. These materials will be available on the Commission's web page by mid-January. 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 1997 fishery.

Tuesday, January 28 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 discussion on recommendations for the 1997 fishery.

Wednesday, January 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. the Conference Board and the PAG will present its report 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 the PAG, if necessary.

Thursday, January 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon the Commission will meet with the public and make decisions regarding the 1997 fishery at this session.

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