COMMERCE SECRETARY APPOINTS BEN ELLIS
TO NORTH PACIFIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

Secretary of Commerce Don Evans has appointed Ben Ellis of Soldotna, Alaska to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. Ellis takes his place on the council on January 20, 2003.

The North Pacific Council is one of eight regional bodies established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to prepare fishery management plans for marine fish stocks in their respective geographical areas of responsibility. The management plans are submitted for review by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) and approved by the secretary.

A current owner of Ben Ellis & Company, a public relations firm in Anchorage, Alaska, and a former plant manager of a seafood processing business, Ellis brings diverse experience to the council. He is a member of the advisory panel to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. He has served on many fisheries’ related boards, including of the Kenai River Special Management Advisory Board where he served as chairman, and numerous Alaska Board of Fisheries working groups.

The obligatory seat belonging to the state of Alaska became vacant in October when Robert C. Penney resigned his seat. Penney had served on the council since August 2000. Mr. Ellis will complete the remainder of the former member's term which will expire on August 10, 2003.

The Commerce Department's National Marine Fisheries Service is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation's living marine resources through scientific research, management, enforcement and the conservation of marine mammals and other protected marine species and their habitat.

To learn more about NOAA Fisheries, please visit:

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov.