Board: North Pacific Research Board
Board identification number: 201
Department: FISH & GAME
Authority: 43 USC 1474 (d); and Amendments in HR 4577 (2001).
Status: Active
Sunset date:
Requirements: No Legislative Confirmation or Financial Disclosure required
Prohibitions: None
Term: 3 years
Chair: Not specified in federal law.
Description: The board consists of 20 members – 5 voting seats composed of the following (or their designees): The U.S. Secretary of Commerce; the Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game; the chair of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council; the Director of the Alaska SeaLife Center; and one member who shall represent fishing interests (and who shall be nominated by the Board and appointed by the Secretary of Commerce). All decisions of the Board, including grant recommendations, shall be by majority vote of the five voting seats in consultation with other members. The following individuals, or their designees, serve in an advisory capacity to the five members previously listed in this section: the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Interior, the Commandant of USCG, Director of the Office of Naval Research, the chair of the Arctic Research Commission, and the Director of the Oil Spill Recovery Institute. In addition, the Governor of Alaska may nominate 5 individuals to serve in an advisory capacity (1 each from the following areas or groups: environmental, Alaska Natives, oil and gas, fishing, academia); the Governor of Washington may nominate 3 individuals to serve in an advisory capacity (specific criteria not required); and the Governor of Oregon may nominate 1 individual to serve in an advisory capacity (specific criteria not required).
Function: The board’s research funds are based on interest earned by the Environmental Improvement and Restoration Fund, created by Congress and derived from the Dinkum Sands case. The board recommends marine research initiatives to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, who makes final funding decisions. The funds are to be used to conduct research activities on or relating to the fisheries or marine ecosystems in the north Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea, and Arctic Ocean with priority on cooperative research efforts designed to address pressing fishery management or marine ecosystem information needs.
Special facts: Appointments are made by the Governors of Alaska, Washington, and Oregon. Members serve in an advisory capacity. The Governor of Alaska has 5 seats, the Governor of Washington has 3 seats, and the Governor of Oregon has 1 seat. Members nominated by the Governor of Alaska shall be individuals knowledgeable, through education, training, or experience, regarding fisheries or marine ecosystems in the North Pacific Ocean, the Bering Sea, or the Arctic Ocean.
Compensation: Reimbursement for actual expenses.
Meetings: Twice per year, in May and September, for approximately four – five days each time
For further information and to reach individual members, contact:
Lynn Palensky
1007 West Third Ave, Suite 100
Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone: (907) 644-6702
Fax: (907) 644-6780
