EXTENDED: NPRB Seeks Nominations for its Advisory Panel by August 10th

by Brendan Smith | Aug 5, 2021 | Headlines

New Solicitation for Two Seats on the Advisory Panel
Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Region & Arctic Region

Advisory Panel Announcement

The North Pacific Research Board seeks nominations and self-nominations to fill two seats on its Advisory Panel, one representing the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands region and the second representing the Arctic Region. The deadline for receipt of nomination materials is Tuesday, August 10, 2021.

Advisory Panel Info

The Advisory Panel represents stakeholders, user groups, and other interested parties from regions within the Board’s purview: the Gulf of Alaska, the Bering Sea, and the Arctic, and one at-large seat. Appointments are for three-year terms, with a maximum of two consecutive terms. The seats currently vacant represent the Bering Sea/Aleutians and the Arctic Region. Nominees will be considered and appointed by the Board at its September 2021 meeting. The new Advisory Panel members will begin their three-year term in April 2022.

Advisory Panel members advise the Board on accomplishing its overall mission of fielding a high-caliber, comprehensive research program that will: 1) improve our understanding of the Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea, and Aleutian Islands, and Arctic Ocean ecosystems and their fisheries, and 2) help to sustain and enhance marine resources. For more information see http://www.nprb.org/nprb/about-us/advisory-panel.

The Board believes it is important to incorporate meaningful community involvement throughout its science program, from planning to oversight and review. The Advisory Panel has a significant advice-giving role, with active involvement in setting research priorities and defining questions, as well as highlighting proposals with special stakeholder relevance. To this end, nominations are sought from individuals with practical knowledge and experience in one or more of these large marine ecosystems.

The Advisory Panel meets twice each year in Anchorage (April and September). While there is no pay involved with serving on the Advisory Panel, the Board covers expenses for travel, food, and lodging for members to attend panel meetings, and to attend the Alaska Marine Science Symposium, held in January each year in Anchorage.

The Board will consider the following when deciding on appointments to the Advisory Panel:

Candidates should have a demonstrated ability to be objective in considering research activities and science planning;
Candidates should be of top quality and caliber and be committed to full and active participation for each meeting during their term;
Candidates should be considered because of the experience they bring to the Board rather than their political clout or connection;
Candidates should be active, involved members of their local community, occupation, or community of interest to ensure the best and most pertinent input to the Board and likewise should be responsible and diligent in reporting on Board activities back to their communities.

The deadline for receipt of nomination materials is Tuesday, August 10, 2021. Nominations and self-nominations may be submitted to the Board by email to Kayla.Wagenfehr@nprb.org, or by regular mail to:
Nominations Committee
North Pacific Research Board
1007 West 3rd Avenue, Suite 100
Anchorage, AK 99501

Nominations and self-nominations must include:

A brief resume of not more than three pages; and
Full contact information including phone number and email address.

Optional but preferred:

Up to three letters of reference may be submitted by the deadline.

Please Note:

Attendance at panel meetings is critical to NPRB’s success. Nominees and self-nominees are asked to take a close look at their calendars to see if the typical Advisory Panel meeting schedule is compatible with theirs. The Advisory Panel typically meets the third week of April and the second or third week of September every year.
Conflict of Interest Policy. The Board and its panels follow conflict of interest procedures (available here) during the proposal selection process, requiring recusals and disclosures on individual proposals. Nominees and self-nominees are strongly encouraged to review the policy before putting their names forward. For more information, contact the Executive Director, Lynn Palensky (Lynn.Palensky@nprb.org).

Please visit the Board’s website at www.nprb.org for more information about the Board and its activities.

NPRB Seeking Fishing Industry Representative Nominations. Deadline to submit is April 15th!

by Brendan Smith | Jul 15, 2021 | Headlines

The North Pacific Research Board is seeking nominations to fill the twentieth seat on the Board. This seat represents the interests of the fishing industry and becomes available on June 1, 2021 for a three-year term. The fishing industry seat is nominated by the Board and subject to approval and appointment by the Secretary of Commerce.

The North Pacific Research Board was created by Congress to recommend marine research activities to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, to be supported by earnings of the Environmental Improvement and Restoration Fund. NPRB promotes a comprehensive science program of the highest caliber to provide a better understanding of the North Pacific, Bering Sea, and Arctic Ocean ecosystems and their fisheries. The Board gives priority to cooperative research projects that are designed to address pressing fishery management or marine ecosystem information needs.

Enabling legislation defines the membership of NPRB to include ten ex-officio members representing various agencies and organizations, nine members that are nominated by the governors of the states of Alaska, Washington, and Oregon, and the twentieth member who is nominated by the Board itself and is appointed by the Secretary of Commerce. This twentieth member represents fishing interests, is appointed for a non-renewable three-year term, and serves on the NPRB Executive Committee.

The Board generally meets twice each year (spring and fall). In the annual round of activities, board members determine the content and amount of funding available for annual requests for proposals (RFPs) as well as design and select integrated ecosystem research programs, long-term monitoring programs, and graduate student research awards. The Board is assisted by a Science Panel, an Advisory Panel, and a small staff. While there is no pay associated with serving on the Board, expenses for travel, food, and lodging are covered.

The following criteria will be used by the Board in making a selection from among nominees for the fishing industry seat:

• Knowledge or experience regarding commercial fishing, processing, or marketing of fish in one or more commercial fisheries off Alaska;
• Knowledge of or experience in management, conservation, and stewardship of natural resources, including related interactions with industry, government bodies, academic institutions, and public agencies;
• Experience in a state or regional organization whose members participate in an Alaska fishery;
• Experience serving as a member of the Alaska Board of Fisheries, North Pacific Fishery Management Council, NPRB, or their associated committees;
• Knowledge or experience regarding marine research organizations and activities off Alaska; and
• Minimum potential for conflict of interest in funding decisions of the Board.

Fishing Representative Nomination Details

The deadline for receipt of nomination materials is April 15, 2021. Nominations and self-nominations may be submitted by email to kayla.wagenfehr@nprb.org, or by regular mail to:

Nominations Committee
North Pacific Research Board
1007 West 3rd Avenue, Suite 100
Anchorage, AK 99501