Structure of the Commission

IPHC Structure

The Commission, including its Subsidiary Bodies, are supported by an Executive Director and Secretariat staff.

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Contracting Parties

The IPHC currently consists of six members, three appointed by each Contracting Party (the Governor General of Canada and the President of the United States of America), who serve their terms at the pleasure of the Contracting Party. In recent years, one Commissioner from each Contracting Party has been an employee of the federal fisheries agency, one a fisher, and one either a buyer or a processor involved in the fishery.

Subsidiary bodies

Pursuant to Rule 14.1 of the IPHC Rules of Procedure (2021), the Commission has established the Boards and Committee listed below. The Rules of Procedure for the subsidiary bodies are contained within the IPHC Rules of Procedure.

Links to reports and documents from subsidiary body meetings can be found by visiting our Meetings Page or our Document Library.  

Management Strategy Advisory Board (MSAB)

The MSAB is a panel formed of harvesters, fisheries managers, processors, Staff, Commissioners, science advisors, and academics created in 2013 to oversee and advise the Staff on the IPHC's Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE). MSE is an ongoing process to define fishery objectives, articulate and examine management procedures, and define performance measures in order to recommend fishery management measures for Commission consideration. The Rules of Procedure for this subsidiary body are contained within the IPHC Rules of Procedure.

MSAB Officers

Adam KeizerAdam Keizer
Co-Chairperson
Canada
Mr. Pete HulsonPete Hulson
Co-Chairperson
U.S.A.

MSAB Members

Chuck AshcroftChuck Ashcroft
Recreational
Canada
Karla BushKarla Bush
NPFMC
U.S.A.
Forrest BradenForrest Braden
 Recreational
U.S.A.
Angel DrobnicaAngel Drobnica
Processing
U.S.A.
Angus GroutAngus Grout
Commercial
Canada
Dan FalveyDan Falvey
Commercial
U.S.A.
Heather HallHeather Hall
PFMC
U.S.A.
Robert HauknesRobert Hauknes
Commercial
Canada
Ann-Marie HuangAnn-Marie Huang
Science Advisor
Canada
Kurt IversonKurt Iverson
NOAA-Fisheries
U.S.A.
James Johnson James Johnson
Deep Sea Fisherman's Union of the Pacific
U.S.A.
Jim LaneJim Lane
First Nations
Canada
Tom MarkingTom Marking
Recreational
U.S.A.
Scott MazzoneScott Mazzone
Treaty Tribes
U.S.A.
Per OdegaardPer Odegaard
Commercial
U.S.A.
Peggy ParkerPeggy Parker
Processing
U.S.A.
Chris Sporer
Commercial
Canada
Sarah WebsterSarah Webster
ADF&G Sport
U.S.A.

Scientific Review Board (SRB)

The SRB, a small group of fisheries science experts, provides an independent scientific review of Commission science products and programs, and supports and strengthens the stock assessment process. The SRB was organized in its current configuration in 2013, continuing a tradition of incorporating outside input to IPHC science dating to the 1920s (see IPHC-1931-SR001). The Rules of Procedure for this subsidiary body are contained within the IPHC Rules of Procedure.

SRB Members

Dr. Sean CoxDr. Sean Cox
Simon Fraser University
Canada
Dr. Kim ScribnerDr. Kim Scribner
Michigan State Univ.
U.S.A.
Photo courtesy of MSU
Dr. Olaf JensenDr. Olaf Jensen
University of Wisconsin-Madison
U.S.A.
Dr. Anna KuparinenDr. Anna Kuparinen
University of Jyväskylä
Finland

Research Advisory Board (RAB)

The RAB, which formed in 1999, consists of both fishers and processors who offer suggestions to the Executive Director and staff on where Commission research should focus. RAB generally meets in February, after the IPHC Annual Meeting, and its input is factored into the IPHC research planning process. The Rules of Procedure for this subsidiary body are contained within the IPHC Rules of Procedure.

RAB Officers

Dr. David T. WilsonDr. David T. Wilson
Chairperson
IPHC Executive Director
Dr. Josep PlanasDr. Josep Planas
Vice-Chairperson
IPHC Secretariat

RAB Members

Grace AllenGrace Allen
Commercial
U.S.A.
Kevin BennettKevin Bennett
​Commercial
U.S.A.
Tiare BoyesTiare Boyes
Commercial
Canada
Steve DanielsSteve Daniels
Commercial
U.S.A.
Lando EchevarioLando Echevario
Commercial
U.S.A.
Angus GroutAngus Grout
Commercial
Canada
James HubbardJim Hubbard
Commercial
U.S.A.
Scott MazzoneScott Mazzone
Treaty Tribes
U.S.A.
Shawn McManusShawn McManus
Commercial
U.S.A.
Al PazarAl Pazar
FISS Contractor
U.S.A.
Stephen RhoadsStephen Rhoads
Commercial
U.S.A.
Brian RitchieBrian Ritchie
Recreational
U.S.A.
Alex RodriguezAlex Rodriguez
Commercial
U.S.A.
Lauren WildLauren Wild
Academia
U.S.A.

Conference Board (CB)

The CB is a panel representing Canadian and American commercial and sport halibut fishers. Created in 1931 by the Commission, the Board gives the IPHC the fishers' perspective on Commission proposals presented at Annual Meetings in January. Members are designated by union and vessel owner organizations from both nations. The Rules of Procedure for this subsidiary body are contained within the IPHC Rules of Procedure.

CB Officers

Jim LaneJim Lane
First Nations
Canada
Linda BehnkenLinda Behnken
Commercial
U.S.A.

CB Members - Canada

Terry HenshawTerry Henshaw
Annieville Halibut Association (AHA)
Canada
Christa RuselChrista Rusel
A-Tlegay Fisheries Society (AFS)
Canada
Bruce TurrisBruce Turris
BC Commercial Integrated Groundfish Society (CIGS)
Canada
Lorne IversonLorne Iverson
BC Halibut Longline Fisherman’s Assoc. (BHLF)
Canada
Robert HauknesRobert Hauknes
BC Northern Trollers Association (NTA)
Canada
Tiare BoyesTiare Boyes
BC Tuna Fishermen's Association (TFA)
Canada
Ted BrookmanTed Brookman
BC Wildlife Federation
Canada
Tom RusselTom Russel
Canadian Sablefish Association (CSA)
Canada
Shawn CowparShawn Cowpar
Council of the Haida Nation (CHN)
Canada
Darryl TateDarryl Tate
Dididaht First Nation (DFN)
Canada
David BoyesDavid Boyes
Halibut Advisory Board (HAB)
Canada
Ken WingKen Wing
Hook and Line Groundfish Association (HLGA)
Canada
Nicole FredericksonNicole Frederickson
Island Marine Aquatic Working Group
Canada
Alan CarlAlan Carl
Northern Halibut Producers Association (NHPA)
Canada
Cliff AtleoCliff Atleo
Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council (NTC)
Canada
Quinton SampleQuinton Sample
Pacific Coast Fishing Vessel Owners Guild (PCFVOG)
Canada
Chris Sporer
Pacific Halibut Management Association of BC (PHMA)
Canada
Gerry KristiansonGerry Kristianson
Sport Fishing Advisory Board - Main (SFABM)
Canada
Mike FowlerMike Fowler
Sport Fishing Advisory Board - North (SFABN)
Canada
Chuck AshcroftChuck Ashcroft
Sport Fishing Advisory Board - South (SFABS)
Canada
Angus Grout
Steveston Halibut Association (SHA)
Canada
Owen BirdOwen Bird
Sport Fishing Institute of BC (SFI)
Canada
Cristopher BosCristopher Bos
South Vancouver Island Anglers Coalition (SVIAC)
Canada
Russell CameronRussell Cameron
The United Fishermen And Allied Workers' Union – Unifor (UFAWU/UNIFOR)
Canada
Lyle PierceLyle Pierce
Vancouver Island Longline Assoc.
Canada
Deryk KreftingDeryk Krefting
West Coast Fishing Guides Association (WCFGA)
Canada

CB Members - USA

Layton LockettLayton Lockett
Adak Community Development Corporation
U.S.A.
Garrett LambertGarrett Lambert
Alaska Charter Association (ACA)
U.S.A.
Dan FalveyDan Falvey
Alaska Longline Fisherman's Association
U.S.A.
Rebecca Skinner
Alaska Whitefish Trawlers Association (AWTA)
U.S.A.
Angel DrobnicaAngel Drobnica
Aleutian Pribilof Island CDA
U.S.A.
Myron MelovidovMyron Melovidov
Aleut Coorporation of Saint Paul Island (ACSPI)
U.S.A.
Leonard HerzogLeonard Herzog
Area 4 Concerned Harvesters
U.S.A.
Steve RicciSteve Ricci
Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation (BBEDC)
U.S.A.
Duncan FieldsDuncan Fields
Cape Barnabas, Inc
U.S.A.
Brian RichieBrian Richie
CATCH Association (CA)
U.S.A.
Ray MelovidovRay Melovidov
Central Bering Sea Fishermen's Association
U.S.A.
Dave CroonquistDave Croonquist
Coastal Conservation Association (CCA)
U.S.A.
Joel KawaharaJoel Kawahara
Coastal Trollers Association (CTA)
U.S.A.
Paul WilkinsPaul Wilkins
Coastal Villages Region Fund (CVRF)
U.S.A.
Marc CarrelMarc Carrel
Cordova District Fishermen United
U.S.A.
John BruceJohn Bruce
Deep Sea Fishermen’s Union of the Pacific (DSFU)
U.S.A.
Michael OffermanMichael Offerman
Edmonds Veteran Independent Longliners (EVL)
U.S.A.
Per OdegaardPer Odegaard
Fishing Vessel Owners Assoc. (FVOA)
U.S.A.
Chad See
Freezer Longliner Coalition
U.S.A.
Kevin Burchfield
Juneau Charterboat Association (JCBA)
U.S.A.
Tom Gemmell
Halibut Coalition Inc.
U.S.A.
Daniel Donich
Homer Charter Association
U.S.A.
Mary MarkingMary Marking
Humbolt Area Saltwater Anglers (HASA)
U.S.A.
Kiril Basargin
K Bay Fishermen Association
U.S.A.
Linda KozakLinda Kozak
Kodiak Vessel Owners Association (KVOA)
U.S.A.
Jim HubbardJim Hubbard
Kruzof Fisheries (KRUZOF)
U.S.A.
Garrett ElwoodGarrett Elwood
Next Generation Fishermens Association (NGFA)
U.S.A.
Malcolm MilneMalcolm Milne
North Pacific Fisheries Association
U.S.A.
Megan O'NeilMegan O'Neil
Petersburg Vessel Owners Association
U.S.A.
Jim Martin
Recreational Fishing Alliance - National
U.S.A.
Tom MarkingTom Marking
Recreational Fishing Alliance - California
U.S.A.
Paul ClampittPaul Clampitt
Sablefish and Halibut Pot Association (SHPA)
U.S.A.
James Carter HughesJames Carter Hughes
Seafood Producers Coop (SPC)
U.S.A.
Kathy HansenKathy Hansen
SE Alaska Fishermen's Alliance
U.S.A.
Phillip WymanPhillip Wyman
Sitka Halibut & Black Cod Marketing Association
U.S.A.
Forrest BradenForrest Braden
Southeast Alaska Guides (SEAGO)
U.S.A.
Jeff KauffmanJeff Kauffman
St. Paul Fishermen's Association
U.S.A.
Simeon Swetzof JR.Simeon Swetzof JR.
Tribal Government of St. Paul
U.S.A.
Jeff StephanJeff Stephan
United Fishermen's Marketing Association (UFMA)
U.S.A.
Landry Price
Yukon Delta Fisheries Association
U.S.A.

Processor Advisory Board (PAB)

The PAB, as the name suggests, represents halibut processors. Like the Conference Board, PAB lends its opinion regarding Commission proposals and offers recommendations at IPHC Annual Meetings. The group was formed in 1996. The Rules of Procedure for this subsidiary body are contained within the IPHC Rules of Procedure.

PAB Officers

Jessica KeplingerJessica Keplinger
Chairperson
U.S.A.
Carl NordmannCarl Nordmann
Vice-Chairperson
Canada

PAB Members

Canada
U.S.A.
William SullivanWilliam Sullivan
U.S.A.
Mark Callahan

Finance and Administration Committee (FAC)

The Finance and Administration Committee (FAC) is comprised of Commissioners appointed to the task. Its duties are to advise the Commission on such matters of an administrative and financial character as are remitted to it by the Commission, including annually examining the operating budget for the current year and the draft budgets for the ensuing and following years. In addition, the FAC may draw to the attention of the Commission any matter of an administrative or financial character. The Rules of Procedure for this subsidiary body are contained within the IPHC Rules of Procedure.

Agencies

To be developed.

Observers and the general public

The Commission and its subsidiary bodies are generally open to Observers and the general public unless the Commission specifically decides otherwise.

The Commission may, upon their request, invite the following Observers in their official capacity:

  1. Any State or any other entity that has jurisdiction over waters adjacent to the Convention Area;
  2. Other States with an interest in the work of the Commission that are not Contracting Parties of the Commission, invited by the Commission;
  3. Other regional fisheries management organisations and other relevant governmental or intergovernmental organisations, invited by the Commission;
  4. Non-governmental organisations having special competence in the field of activity of the Commission, to attend such of its meetings as the Commission may specify.

Any Observer to a meeting of the Commission, or of the general public, may submit memoranda as either Regulatory Proposals, Position Statements or Information Papers, no later than 30 days prior to the commencement of the session.

Observers and the general public may participate in the deliberations of the Commission and its subsidiary bodies during the Observer and public testimony periods, but shall not be entitled to participate in the taking of decisions.

The Commission may enter into agreements or arrangements with other inter-governmental organisations and institutions, especially those active in the fisheries sector, which might contribute to the work and further the objectives of the Commission. Such agreements or arrangements may provide that these organisations or institutions may be represented as Observers in the Sessions of the Commission.