The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Ad Hoc South of Humbug Pacific Halibut Workgroup (SHPHW) will hold a conference call to finalize a report summarizing the biological,
assessment, monitoring, and allocation history of Pacific halibut in the area south of Humbug Mt.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Department of Ecology and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Suquamish Tribe, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are collectively referred to as the Trustee Council for this case. The Trustee Council is providing notice that the Supplement to the Draft Programmatic Restoration Plan and Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (RP/PEIS) are being released for public comment. The Restoration Plan identifies a restoration approach to compensate for injuries to natural resources in the Lower Duwamish River. The Trustees seek damages from potentially responsible parties (PRPs) to restore, rehabilitate, replace or acquire the equivalent of natural resources and services injured by the release of hazardous substances in the Lower Duwamish River. This notice provides details on the availability of and opportunity to comment on the Supplement to the Draft Programmatic Restoration Plan and PEIS. Comments may be submitted in written form or verbally at a public meeting.

Written comments must be received by October 10, 2012

In September 2011, the largest dam removal in U.S. history began on the Elwha River in Washington—home to all five species of Pacific salmon. Just a few short months after the 108-foot tall Elwha Dam was removed, fish are already returning to their restored habitat.  

ISSF's Status of the World Fisheries for Tuna report has been updated with the lastest stock assessments for the eastern Pacific Ocean. The report evaluates the biolofical health of the world's 23 commercially fished oceanic tuna stocks. The report identifies which stocks are healthy, those that are in danger of being overfished and stocks that are in an overfished state. The report also rates fishing gears according to their impact on the marine environment. 

This update highlights two important changes in the eastern Pacific Ocean. 

NOAA, the Department of the Interior (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Nez Perce Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation of Oregon, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, and the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon are collectively referred to as the Trustee Council for this case. The Trustee Council is providing notice that the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) and Draft Restoration Plan are being released for public comment. The Restoration Plan identifies a restoration approach to compensate for injuries to natural resources in Portland Harbor in the Lower Willamette River. The Trustees seek damages from potentially responsible parties (PRPs) to restore, rehabilitate, replace or acquire the equivalent of natural resources and services injured by the release of hazardous substances in Portland Harbor. This notice provides details on the availability of and opportunity to comment on the Draft PEIS and Restoration Plan. Comments may be submitted in written form or verbally at a public meeting.

Written comments must be received by October 7, 2012.   

A recent National Research Council (NRC) study confirms the need to take action to address the impacts of rising sea levels. The review, requested by numerous state and federal agencies, will be used to ensure that California is safeguarding its citizens, strengthening its economy, and minimizing impacts to natural resources by investing in climate-ready development and infrastructure. This review sets a standard for state and local projects moving forward, related to the impact of rising sea levels. NMMA members in these pilot locations may see the first steps towards these economic and environmental infrastructure changes. 

The panel to review assessment methods for data-moderate stocks will hold a work session that is open to the public.

DATES: The Review of Assessment Methods for Data-Moderate Stocks will be held beginning at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 26, 2012 and end at 5 p.m. or as necessary to complete business for the day. The Panel will reconvene on Wednesday, June 27 and will continue through Friday, June 29, 2012 beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 5 p.m. each day, or as necessary to complete business. The Panel will adjourn on Friday, June 29, 2012.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) ad hoc South of Humbug Pacific Halibut Workgroup (SHPHW) will hold a conference call to review background material on Pacific Halibut stock assessment, catch apportionment, and monitoring in Area 2A.

DATES: The conference call will be held Tuesday, June 12, 2012, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) and its advisory entities will hold public meetings.

The Pacific Council and its advisory entities will meet June 20-26, 2012. The Pacific Council meeting will begin on Thursday, June 21, 2012 at 8 a.m., reconvening each day through Tuesday, June 26, 2012. All meetings are open to the public, except a closed session will be held at the end of business on Thursday, June 21 to address litigation and personnel matters. The Pacific Council will meet as late as necessary each day to complete its scheduled business.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Habitat Committee (HC) will hold a meeting, which is open to the public, to discuss habitat issues related to Council-managed fisheries.

The work session will be held Tuesday, June 12, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. or until business for the day is completed.