The International Pacific Halibut Commission’s 2002 Interim Meeting will be held in Seattle, Washington, on November 20-21, 2002 to discuss administrative, financial, and preliminary 2001/2002 research results and future projects. On Wednesday, November 20, the Commissioners and Commission staff will meet in private to discuss administrative and financial issues internal to the Commission. The Wednesday meeting will not be open to external agency staff. The following day, Thursday, November 21, the Commission will meet in Administrative Session to hear staff discussion and reports on 2001/2002 research projects and proposed future research projects, as well as stock assessment and catch limits. Staff assessment of the fishery and catch limit recommendations will be released to the public following this meeting. The meeting is not open to the general public. Commission delegates from each government determine attendance at the Administrative Session meeting (Nov. 21st session only) and should be contacted for information and attendance requests. Results from the meeting will be made public in a News Release after the Interim Meeting.

The Seventy-Ninth Annual Meeting of the International Pacific Halibut Commission will be held in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, from Tuesday, January 21 through Friday, January 24, 2003. The sessions will be held at the Fairmont Empress Hotel in downtown Victoria, British Columbia. The hotel is located at 721 Government Street, Victoria, British Columbia. A block of rooms has been reserved for attendees until January 6, 2003 at a special rate of $115.00 CDN. plus taxes for a single (special rates apply for other rooms). Please identify yourself as part of the IPHC 2003 Annual Meeting to receive the special rate. Please note: cancellations within 48 hours of the reservation may be charged for one night. For reservations please call (250) 384-8111 or (800) 257-7544. Reservations can also be faxed to (250) 389-2747 or visit the website at http://www.fairmont.com.

The Commission will distribute a brief summary of stock assessment information and staff recommendations to the public by early December. This information will also be available on the Commission's web page at http://www.iphc.washington.edu. Requests for 2003 catch limit changes should be submitted to the Commission by December 31, 2002. All information pertaining to the 2003 Annual Meeting, including regulation and catch limit proposal forms can be located by following the Annual Meeting hyperlink on the Commission's web site or by calling the IPHC office at (206) 634-1838.

Requests for 2003 regulatory measures or IPHC management actions should be submitted to the Commission by October 31, 2002. The Commission will not guarantee consideration of proposals received after this date. The submission form can be downloaded from the IPHC web site or can be requested by calling the Commission offices at (206) 634-1838. A summary of all recommendations will be distributed to industry and will also be posted on the IPHC web site.

2003 IPHC Annual Meeting Schedule

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

Tuesday, January 21st the Commission will meet in private session from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. The public session will run from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon or longer, as required. 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 2002 halibut fishery, and present its regulatory proposals for the 2003 halibut fishery. Meeting materials will be available on the Commission's web page by early January.

Wednesday, January 22nd 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 discuss their recommendations for the 2003 fishery.

Thursday, January 23rd 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.

Friday, January 24th from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon the Commission will meet with the public and make decisions and set catch limits regarding the 2003 halibut fishery.

Bruce M. Leaman
Executive Director
Phone: (206) 634-1838
Fax: (206) 632-2983
Web: www.iphc.washington.edu