Fisheries-Oceanography Coordinated Investigations (FOCI)

ATTENDANCE

• SEBSCC proposals are due by the end of April.
• Inter-agency Bering Sea Ecosystem studies - A meeting was held in Anchorage during December to develop a coordinated study plan for the Bering Sea. A draft science plan that synthesizes recommendations from prior and current programs was written by a collective of NOAA authors. Pat Livingston is currently at a meeting in Alaska to discuss this draft with representatives of NOAA, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and the Department of the Interior. In the next few weeks, those and other agencies will contribute to the plan. Contact Pat Livingston to see the draft. When full developed the science plan will be used to solicit research proposals.
• Jim Overland spoke about the frontier program at a new Arctic research center located at the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. Japanese provided half the funding to build it. The center has access to a 400 foot research vessel designed to work in poor weather. This program allows collaboration between Japanese and American scientists.
• El Nino funding - There has been no confirmation on funding for biological work for the El Nino project. If the funding is not approved the proposed work will not be done. (Post-meeting update: funding for this work was received March 12, 1998.)
• A new division leader for CARD has not been chosen yet. Dale Bretschneider will continue to serve as acting CARD leader, probably until after the PMEL program review in June. Phyllis Stabeno is now FOCI director for PMEL.

• Moorings were deployed in Shelikof Strait during MF98-01, February 17-27. The trajectory of the satellite-tracked drifter that was deployed there indicates eddy-like movement. It was also noted during the cruise that Bering Sea ice has retreated north of mooring 2. Measurements at this mooring showed a cold, fresh water surface layer, and warmer more saline water at the bottom.
• Aircraft operations - Because the ARI proposal to use a research aircraft to map the eastern Bering Sea greenbelt was not funded, Nick Bond is working with others to develop alternate plans for use of the NOAA P-3 airplane. Aerial mapping of fronts is being considered.
• The revised Wecoma cruise schedule is posted on the web. One cruise was canceled, and the time allocated for that cruise has been added to the other cruises.
• Live pollock eggs from the Bogoslof area of the Bering Sea have arrived at AFSC and will be used for experiments.

New fishery research vessels - Admiral Dorman is here for discussions about the need for proposed new NOAA fishery research vessels. Art Kendall and Ned Cokelet will be meeting with him to discuss FOCI's requirements.

Please mail corrections and additions to the FOCI Coordinator.

U.S. Dept. of Commerce / NOAA / OAR / ERL / PMEL