For more information on the Bering Sea Sessions taking place 4-5
February 2002, please contact:
Dr. Suzanne K. M. Marcy
Arctic Program Manager and Senior Scientist
National Center for Environmental Assessment
Office of Research and Development
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
222 West 7th Avenue #19
Anchorage, Alaska 99513
Phone: 907/271-2895
Fax: 907/271-3424
Email: marcy.suzanne [at] epa.gov
For more information on the Alaska Forum on the Environment (AFE) taking
place from 4-8 February 2002, see their web site at:
http://www.akforum.com/
Dear Bering Sea Interested Party,
As you may know, the Bering Sea Summit, originally scheduled for April
2002, will not convene as planned. However we are continuing efforts to
foster exchange among the Bering Sea community. To that end, a Bering
Sea track of four sessions (4-5 February 2002) has been organized as
part of the Alaska Forum on the Environment (AFE), convening 4-8
February 2002 at the Egan Center in Anchorage, Alaska. See below for a
description of each session. Special thanks to Jackie Poston for her
outstanding efforts in organizing these sessions.
For information on the AFE please go to the web site for the conference
agenda and registration information: http://www.akforum.com/index.html.
The Anchorage Hilton is the host hotel for the conference. Be sure to
mention AFE for the special conference rates.
We hope you will consider attending the Bering Sea Track at the AFE. The
sessions were designed to be responsive to the many individuals who
contributed to discussions on Summit design. Your input on issues in the
Bering Sea are important to its future.
Thank you for your past support and continuing interest.
Suzanne Marcy
Alaska Forum on the Environment presents....
The Bering Sea - Roadmap to Sustainability
Do you depend on the resources of the Bering Sea?
Does your lifestyle impact the resources of the Bering Sea?
You are cordially invited to attend and participate in the Bering Sea
track at the Alaska Forum on the Environment. The track will feature
four sessions. The first includes panelists who will provide a medley of
useful information on aspects of commercial fishing in the Bering Sea.
The second is an opportunity to review the advice of past task forces
and workshops and to hear alternative perspectives from our diverse
community. The final two sessions provide participants an opportunity to
express their values and concerns about the Bering Sea region and to
recommend ways to enhance its sustainability in the future.
4-5 February 2002
Egan Convention Center
Anchorage, Alaska
Register for the Forum by visiting the web site at
http://www.akforum.com/
You may sign up for one-day or the week.
For more information call:
Jackie Poston at: 907/271-3541 or 800/781-0983
The Bering Sea Track
Session 1 - Monday afternoon, 4 February 2002
-- "Fishing in the Bering Sea: Regulations and Enforcement Activities"
Chris Oliver, North Pacific Fisheries Management Council, Executive
Director
Jim Browning, AK Dept. of Fish & Game, Fisheries Biologist Bristol Bay
Region
Capt. Rich Preston, US Coast Guard, High Seas Enforcement
Paul MacGregor, Attorney, At-Sea Processors Association
(moderated by John Sisk, Special Assistant to Gov. Knowles)
This panel was organized to answer questions about enforcement of
trawlers and regulations governing fishing permits off the Alaska coast
in the Bering Sea, a topic generated during discussions with interested
parties, and particularly through meetings with Tribal governments. In
this 1.5 hour session, half the time will be used to learn the
perspectives of those responsible for managing different aspects of the
fishery. Participants and panelists will then engage in an open,
interactive Q&A and comment period.
Session 2 - Tuesday morning, 5 February 2002
-- "Collective Wisdom: A Compilation of Recommendations of Past
Studies, Groups and Task Forces Related to the Bering Sea"
Jim Ayers, State of AK Governor's Office, Chief of Staff (soon to be
Regional Director of OCEANA )
Chas Dense, State of AK Division of Governmental Coordination
Margaret Williams or Dave Cline, World Wildlife Fund
John Gauvin, Groundfish Forum
Larry Merculieff, Bering Sea Council of Elders/Rural Cap
Pat Livingston, NOAA
Allen Joseph, AVCP
(moderator TBA)
This panel was formed in response to recommendations from interested
parties about the need to understand the successes and outcomes of past
efforts in order to generate next steps in promoting a sustainable
Bering Sea. Some panelists will share recommendations emerging from past
task forces and conferences. Others will present Tribal, industry, and
conservation perspectives. The panel will provide a springboard for
dialogues planned during Sessions 3a and 3b.
Session 3a - Tuesday afternoon, 5 February 2002
-- "Open Discussion: Where do we go from here?"
(Why do you care about the Bering Sea? What are you most concerned
about? How can we work in partnership to foster change?)
Key to understanding how to achieve a sustainable future for the Bering
Sea is to know what we, the Bering Sea community, want in the future.
How do we define sustainability in this region? In an open dialogue,
participants will have the opportunity to share what Bering Sea values
they care about most, express their greatest concerns about changes
occurring in what they value, and to recommend ways to better protect
those values for future generations. We are very pleased that Father
Michael Oleksa will facilitate this dialogue.
Session 3b - Tuesday afternoon, February 5, 2002
-- "Open Discussion Continued: Where do we go from Here?"
This session is a continuation of the dialogue from Session 3a on values
in the Bering Sea. It provides an opportunity for further discussion and
a forum for those unable to attend the previous session. The session
will close with suggestions from participants about future actions.
Father Oleksa will continue as facilitator.