North Pacific Fishery Management Council
Joint Protocol Committee - 10/16/26
Joint Protocol Committee
October 16, 2026, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm AKT.
In-person: Anchorage, Alaska - venue to be determined.
Listen-only online: Zoom link will be provided closer to the meeting date.
Purpose of Meeting:
The Joint Protocol Committee is convening at the request of the Board of Fisheries, in order to provide for information exchange and education about the impacts of bottom contact from trawl fisheries, the Council’s current management requirements, and measures under consideration. This information is intended to inform any future consideration of proposals that may come before the Board. The Joint Protocol Committee does not generate proposals, and does not take action on proposals under consideration by the Board of Fisheries or the Council.
Public Comment: The Committee will review all written public comments submitted prior to the meeting. The comment portal will open on September 8th, and the deadline to submit written comments is Friday, October 9th, at 5:00pm Alaska time. The Committee will also hear public testimony from in-person attendees (no remote testimony). Please signup on the morning of the meeting (October 16th). The Chair will determine the exact time limit per testifier based on time available and how many people wish to testify, but ideally aiming for 3 minutes per testifier.
| Administrative | ||
| 0 Comments | Please submit any written comments here, between Sep 8th and Oct 9th. | |
| Reference Documents | ||
| Attachments: | NPFMC-Board of Fish Joint Protocol Agreement -Uploaded: 07/07/2026 01:39 PM AKST | |
| Introductions and Welcome | ||
| Introductions | ||
| Purpose of Meeting, Agenda | ||
| Staff and Expert Presentations | ||
| Pelagic and non-pelagic trawl fisheries operating in state waters in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska | ||
| Statutory requirements for assessing the impacts of Council-managed groundfish fisheries on habitat, and tools the Council uses | ||
| Federal fishery management measures in effect to minimize adverse impacts of trawl fisheries (e.g., closed areas, and gear modifications including salmon excluders) | ||
| Council actions underway related to habitat (EFH 5-year review) and bottom contact (pelagic trawl gear performance standard) | ||
| Ongoing research on understanding pelagic trawl gear impacts (Gear Innovation Initiative), operationality of bottom contact sensors, and other innovations | ||
| Public Testimony | ||
| On Oct 16th, sign up here to give in-person public testimony. | ||
| Discussions | ||
| Committee Member Discussions | ||