Groundfish Integration: DFO has advised all commercial groundfish license sectors (trawl, halibut, sablefish, rockfish, and schedule II) that be 2006 all vessels will have to be accountable for their rockfish bycatch. In support of this policy, DFO has set up a consultative process called the Commercial Industry Caucus (CIC) charged with developing an operational plan that will allow all licensed vessels to access rockfish for bycatch purposes. To learn more about the CIC and its progress to date click on the following website: http://www.diamondmc.com/cic/index.html

Victoria M: The Victoria M is the U.S. vessel that was scuttled in Canadian waters in the fall of 2003 under a permit authorized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA permit mistakenly authorized the scuttling of the vessel at coordinates that were approximately 2 nautical miles inside Canadian waters. The CGRCS has been working closely with the US EPA and Environment Canada to correct the situation. The US Environmental Protection Agency recently put out a Request For Proposals (RFP) for bids on the removal of the Victoria M. All bids must be in by no later than March 11, 2005. Information on the bidding process can be found on the EPA website at www.epa.gov/oamreg02/05-10110/index.htm . The CGRCS has advised the EPA and Environment Canada that the best time to remove the vessel is in June or July when the weather is better and there is reduced fishing activity in the area. It is hoped that the contract will be awarded by April and that the work will be completed by September 2005.

CGRCS Annual General Meeting: The CGRCS 2005 Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 5, 2005 at the Delta Town and Country Inn, 6005 Hwy. 17, Delta. Starting time is 10 a.m. Please go to the Important Notices page for a copy of the agenda.