August 4, 2021 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:
The Council has formed a new advisory body, the ad hoc Marine Planning Committee (MPC), focused on marine planning, which includes offshore wind, aquaculture, and other offshore development activities. The Council formed the group after hearing strong support from its advisory bodies for improving the Council’s capacity to address the effects of offshore activities on fisheries, coastal communities, and habitat. The Council intends for the MPC to provide an open and transparent process to gather industry and stakeholder input and advice on marine planning, and a mechanism to funnel constructive recommendations to the Council.
The MPC met with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and members of the Pacific Fishery Management Council and the public on July 22-23 to discuss offshore wind considerations for each Council-managed fishery. The MPC itself will meet in late August or early September to discuss and potentially develop a report for Council consideration. Members of the MPC are Darus Peake for the Salmon Advisory Subpanel; Mike Okoniewski for the Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel; Mike Conroy for the Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel; Susan Chambers for the Groundfish Advisory Subpanel; Steven Scheiblauer for the Habitat Committee; Scott McMullen for the Ecosystem Advisory Subpanel; Megan Waters in the conservation seat; Chris Potter for California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife; Delia Kelly for Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife; Corey Niles for Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, and Yvonne DeReynier for National Marine Fisheries Service. The appointment for a Tribal seat is pending.