U.S. Department of Commerce / NOAA	/ OAR /  PMEL  / OERD\  \ NMFS / AFSC / RACE/	FOCI
	Fisheries-Oceanography Coordinated Investigations

Janet Duffy-Anderson, Ned Cokelet, Allen Macklin, Bern Megrey, Jeff Napp, Jim Overland, Ron Reed, Gary Stauffer

• FOCI represented at workshop on climate variability and ecosystem response:  Several FOCI investigators contributed to data declaration and discussion toward understanding North Pacific climate variability and its effect on ecosystems.  The workshop was co-sponsored by the Sloan Foundation (Census of Marine Life), the Interational Pacific Research Center, and PICES.

• GEM workshop:  Janet Duffy-Anderson will represent FOCI at the upcoming Gulf Ecosystem Monitoring (GEM) workshop March 30.  The workshop will develop and discuss the draft research plan for GEM research.  FOCI/AFSC has submitted a one-page proposal to GEM for enhancement of the ichthyoplankton taxonomic guide and to implement it and the fish distributional atlas on the World-Wide Web.

• The ICES FAST task team on fisheries acoustics will hold a meeting in Seattle during April.  Contact Bill Karp or Dave Somerton of AFSC if you are interested.

• NMFS anticipates releasing an Announcement of Opportunity for Steller sea lion research in about two weeks.  The theme of the announcement is not known at this time.  Research funds totaling about $15 M are expected with $10 M available this year.  The opportunity probably will not be available to NMFS personnel.

• The NOAA Ship Fairweather is being recommissioned for work in Alaska.  It has been requested that she have CTD and hydroacoustic capabilities and be able to deploy and recover small subsurface moorings.

• Personnel update:  Jeremy Adams, FOCI's NOAA Corps officer, will be leaving April 1.  We hope to replace him by summer.  After Jerry's departure, please submit electronic versions of cruise instructions and reports for publication on the World-Wide Web to Allen Macklin.

2001 FIELD SEASON

• Steller sea lion research  -  Congress appropriated $43 M for Steller sea lion research this year.  Awards have been made to the North Pacific Marine Mammal Consortium, the Seward Sea Life Center, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, NOAA/OAR, NOAA/NMFS, NOAA/NOS, and possibly some other organizations.  FOCI PMEL successfully competed for a portion of the OAR money, and FOCI AFSC has been awarded a samll portion of the NMFS money.  FOCI also has proposed against the remaining OAR and NOS funds that are being administered by the Cooperative Institute for Arctic Research (CIFAR).  FOCI PMEL will propose research to be funded through NMFS in an opportunity to be announced in about two weeks (see Announcements in these Minutes).  The general scope of Steller sea lion research is to examine the effect of climate on the ecosystem, study the dynamics and distribution of Steller prey and predators, refine knowledge of Steller sea lion behavior, and evaluate the effects of commercial fishing on sea lion habitats.

• FOCI scientists anticipate publication of announcements of opportunity from the Gulf Ecosystem Monitoring program, the North Pacific Marine Research program, and the Steller sea lion research program in the next year.  Scientists will meet in advance to discuss strategies for development of joint physical and biological proposals.

FOCI has for years conducted a fall and winter lunchtime seminar series.  It has been a challenge to schedule speakers this winter, probably due to the need for FOCI researchers to develop proposals.  FOCI's seminar series is an important part of the program.  It offers researchers and technicians the opportunity to test new ideas and report findings, and gives visiting scientists a forum in which to present their work.  Meeting participants felt that FOCI should continue the series and had suggestions on how to schedule speakers more easily and dependably.  More emphasis should be expended on contacting FOCI scientists on an individual basis to schedule seminars rather than a general broadcast to the community that dates are available.  FOCI should take more advantage of associate researchers and visiting scientists.  Some ideas were Chris Wilson speaking about this year's hydroacoustic surveys, Frank Wood on the new fisheries research vessel, Charlie Eriksen on his ocean-profiling glider, Doug DeMaster on Steller sea lion research, Steve Hare on halibut, and science representatives from oceanographic and biological instrument manufacturers.

The next FOCI PI meeting will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 19 March 2001, in the Cloud Chamber (3/2065). Please submit to Allen Macklin, no later than the day before the meeting, agenda items and fax-ready copies of figures or handouts that you intend to present at the meeting. Alternately, presentation materials may be posted on the WWW or e-mailed to remote participants before the meeting.

Mail corrections and addenda to the FOCI Coordinator.