February 26, 2013—Senator Mark Begich (D-AK), Representative Doc Hastings (R-WA), and Eric Schwaab, speaking for the Administration, will be featured speakers at the much-anticipated Managing Our Nation’s Fisheries 3 conference, held May 7-9, 2013 at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C.
“There is tremendous interest building for the Managing Our Nation’s Fisheries conference,” said Dr. Donald McIsaac, Executive Director of the host Pacific Fishery Management Council. “This excellent lineup of featured
speakers enhances the focus and relevance of the conference.”
Senator Begich, Chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans and Fisheries, is noted for his proactive leadership in sustaining the billion-dollar seafood and recreational benefits of the fish-rich State of Alaska.
Congressman Hastings, Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, is well-known as a steady advocate for responsible fishery management and the jobs and economic benefits that flow from properly managed fisheries. Mr. Schwaab, acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Conservation and Management and former head of the National Marine Fisheries Service, is a passionate advocate for fish in the Obama Administration, credited with many successes in balancing environmental protection and robust fisheries at the regulatory level. This conference follows up on the highly successful Managing Our Nation’s Fisheries conferences held in 2003 and 2005.
Managing Our Nation’s Fisheries 3 will focus on how the concepts, policies, and practice of fishery sustainability can be advanced to a higher level. The discussion will address Magnuson-Stevens Act reauthorization issues, as well as adjustments to current management that do not require legislation to implement. The conference will provide a forum for information exchange and an opportunity to hear a wide range of perspectives on the sustainability of fish stocks and ecosystem functions, and the fishing communities that depend on them.
The conference will be organized into three sessions focusing on improving fishery management, advancing ecosystem-based decision making, and providing for fishing community stability. The conference will specifically address nine hot topic focus areas that represent opportunities for changes to how marine fisheries are currently managed.
Registration for the conference is now open. Attendance is limited to 600 people; there are still seats available at this time.
The conference is convened by the eight Regional Fishery Management Councils and hosted by the Pacific Fishery Management Council of Portland, Oregon.
View a list of all conference speakers here
Visit the conference website here