Appointees to Regional Fisheries Councils Named by Commerce Dept.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo has appointed new and returning members to the Pacific and North Pacific regional fishery management councils to three-year terms. The appointments were announced on July 31.

For the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, the appointments include John Moller and Brian Ritchie both of Alaska, and the reappointment of Anne Vanderhoeven of Washington. The NPFMC next meets Sept. 30-Oct. 9 at the Egan Center in Anchorage.

For the Pacific Council, which includes members from California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, Raimondo reappointed Corey Ridings of California and Christa Svensson of Oregon to additional three-year terms, and David Sones to the council’s tribal seat.

The next PFMC meeting is scheduled for Sept. 18-24 in Spokane, Wash.

Those appointed are from nominations submitted by the governors of fishing states, territories and tribal governments.

Council members represent diverse groups, including commercial and recreational fishing industries, environmental organizations and academia, as well as state and federal agencies. They are considered vital to fulfilling requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act.

Appointments of 22 members to the other six regional fishery management councils were announced earlier this summer.