November 7, 2005

2005 IPHC INTERIM MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT

The International Pacific Halibut Commission’s 2005 Interim Meeting will be held in Seattle, Washington, on November 29-30, 2005. On Tuesday, November 29, the Commissioners and Commission staff will meet in private to discuss administrative and financial issues internal to the Commission. The Tuesday session will not be open to external agency staff. The following day, Wednesday, November 30, the Commission will meet in Administrative Session to hear staff discussion and reports on 2005 research projects and proposed future research projects, as well as stock assessment and recommended catch limits. The meeting is for administrative purposes only and not open to the general public. Commission delegates from each government determine attendance at the Administrative Session meeting (Nov. 30th session only) and should be contacted for information and attendance requests. Results from the meeting, including staff assessment of the fishery and catch limit recommendations, will be made public in a news release after the Interim Meeting.

2006 IPHC ANNUAL MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT

The Eighty-second Annual Meeting of the International Pacific Halibut Commission will be held in Bellevue , WA from Tuesday, January 17 through Friday, January 20, 2006. The sessions will be held at the new Bellevue Westin Hotel. A block of rooms has been reserved for attendees at the hotel until December 23, 2005 at a special rate of $113 USD for a single or double room, or $163 USD for a Grand Deluxe room, plus taxes. After the cut-off date, the rate will revert to $249. The Bellevue Westin is located at 600 Bellevue Way N.E. , in Bellevue WA . Please identify yourself as part of the IPHC 2006 Annual Meeting to receive the special rate and ensure room availability. For reservations please call (425) 638-1000 or (888) 627-8084. Reservations can also be faxed to (425) 638-1060 or visit the meeting website at http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/halibut.

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 2006 catch limit changes should be submitted to the Commission by December 31, 2005. All information pertaining to the 2006 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.

The Commission invites the public to submit requests for 2006 regulatory changes (season length, clearances in Area 4, logbook reporting measures, etc) or management actions for review at the Annual Meeting. The deadline date for submission is November 15, 2005. 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.

2006 IPHC Annual Meeting Schedule

Monday - Canadian and United States Sectional Meetings will be held on Monday, January 16, 2006. These meetings are informal and run by each respective government to solicit opinions prior to the IPHC Annual Meeting. 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 17th 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. Fishers, vessel owners, processors, and all other interested parties are welcome to attend the public session and are encouraged to ask questions of the Commission and Commission staff. At this session the Commission staff will present the results of recent research, summarize results of the 2005 halibut fishery, and present its regulatory proposals for the 2006 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 18th, 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 2006 fishery.

Thursday - On January 19th, 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 20th, from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon, the Commission will meet with the public and make decisions and set catch limits regarding the 2006 halibut fishery.

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