WHAT:

The NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service is holding a public meeting to provide information on and to solicit comments on the Alaska Groundfish Fisheries Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands groundfish fishery management plans. NOAA fisheries also has extended the public comment period until July 25th.

NOAA fisheries is holding an open house before the meeting to give members of the public the opportunity to ask questions of team members and view project displays and information about the draft SEIS. During the public hearing portion of the meeting, individuals will be heard and their comments will be recorded and incorporated into the body of comments that will be considered when preparing the final SEIS.

WHEN:

Wednesday, May 9, 2001
2:00 p.m.

WHERE:

1315 East West Highway
SSMC III, Room 4527
Silver Spring, Md

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The SEIS performs several important functions:

It is a planning and reference document to describe the current management regime for groundfish fisheries in Alaska;

It describes and analyzes current knowledge about the physical, biological, and human environment in order to assess impacts caused by past and current fishery activities;
It provides a baseline analysis that will be used to shape future management policy and a future range of potential management actions;

It examines the effects of the current groundfish fishery management and regime, as well as selected alternative management regimes, on the human environment to assess whether a different management regime should be implemented.

Public comments on this document can be submitted in writing until July 25th, 2001. Please note that, in response to public requests, this is a second extension of the comment period. Mail comments to National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Regional Office, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802 or fax comments to
(907) 586-7249 Attn: Lori Gravel.

The Alaska Groundfish Fisheries Programmatic SEIS is on line at the NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region Web site http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/seis/default.htm

Copies of the SEIS in printed or CD format can be obtained by contacting Steven K. Davis, NMFS, 222 West 7th Avenue, Room 517, Anchorage, AK 99513 or steven.k.davis@noaa.gov.