Volunteers are being sought by NOAA Fisheries to serve on an Alaska Salmon Research Task Force created by Congress.
NOAA Fisheries is encouraging all interested parties to submit nominations for membership. The task force must convene operations by March 29.
Section 4 (c) of the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act dictates that the task force conduct a review of Pacific salmon science relevant to understanding salmon returns in Alaska, and identify scientific research gaps in understanding the Pacific salmon life cycle in Alaska.
This is an important opportunity to collaborate and coordinate by bringing together Western science and indigenous and local knowledge for Pacific salmon conservation efforts in Alaska, and to ensure the sustainability of this critical resource, NOAA officials said.
The Secretary of Commerce will appoint a representative from NOAA, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and the United States section of the Pacific Salmon Commission. There will also be two to five representatives from several categories, appointed with regard to differences in regional perspectives and experience.
These representatives will include at least two Alaska residents with personal knowledge of and direct experience with subsistence uses in rural Alaska, and Alaska fishing industry representatives throughout the salmon supply chain including from directed commercial fishing, recreational fishing, charter fishing, seafood processors, salmon prohibited species catch (bycatch) users, or hatcheries.
The task force will also include five representatives who are academic experts in salmon biology, salmon ecology (marine and freshwater), salmon habitat restoration and conservation, or comprehensive marine research planning in the North Pacific.
The governor of Alaska also gets to appoint one representative from the state who is knowledgeable about the state’s salmon research efforts.
