October 22, 2004

2004 IPHC INTERIM MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT

The International Pacific Halibut Commission’s 2004 Interim Meeting will be held in Seattle, Washington , on December 1-2, 2004 to discuss administrative, financial, and preliminary 2003/2004 research results and future projects. On Wednesday, December 1, 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, December 2, the Commission will meet in Administrative Session to hear staff discussion and reports on 2003/2004 research projects and proposed future research projects, as well as stock assessment and recommended 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 (Dec. 2nd 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.

2005 IPHC ANNUAL MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT

The Eighty-first Annual Meeting of the International Pacific Halibut Commission will be held in Victoria , B.C. from Tuesday, January 18 through Friday, January 21, 2005. The sessions will be held at the Delta Ocean Point Resort in downtown Victoria . A block of rooms has been reserved for attendees at the resort until December 17, 2004 at a special rate of $119 CAD for a Delta room (other rates are $149/$179 CAD for harbour views) plus taxes. The Ocean Point Resort and Spa is located at 45 Songhees Road in Victoria B.C.. Please identify yourself as part of the IPHC 2005 Annual Meeting (group code: HALIB) to receive the special rate and ensure room availability. For reservations please call (250) 360-2999 or (800) 268-1133. Reservations can also be faxed to (250) 360-1041 or visit the website at http://www.deltahotels.com.

The Commission will distribute a brief summary of stock assessment information and staff recommendations to the public in December. This information will also be available on the Commission's web page at http://www.iphc.washington.edu. Requests for 2005 catch limit changes should be submitted to the Commission by December 31, 2004. All information pertaining to the 2005  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 2005 regulatory measures or IPHC management actions should be submitted to the Commission by November 1, 2004. 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.

2005 IPHC Annual Meeting Schedule

Monday -  Canadian and United States Sectional Meetings will be held on Monday, January 17, 2005. These meetings are informal and run by each respective government to solicit opinions prior to the IPHC Annual Meeting. Both meetings will be conducted in the Songhees Suite. The U.S. Section meeting will occur at 2:30 p.m. and the Canadian Section meeting will follow at 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday - 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 18th 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 2004 halibut fishery, and present its regulatory proposals for the 2005 halibut fishery. Meeting materials will be available on the Commission's web page by early January and at the meeting. The IPHC will be holding an evening reception at 7 p.m.

Wednesday – On January 19th 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 2005 fishery.

Thursday - On January 20th 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 - On January 21st from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon the Commission will meet with the public and make decisions and set catch limits regarding the 2005 halibut fishery.

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