Oregon Trawl Commission seeks to fill open position, Oct. 25

The Oregon Trawl Commission is seeking candidates to fill a partial term opening for a processor/handler representative that would serve as a commissioner. The opening is to complete a term through June 30, 2018. Full terms are four years in duration. To qualify to serve as a processor on the Oregon Trawl Commission, an applicant must be an Oregon resident, a US citizen, and have collected the assessment for the last three consecutive years on pink shrimp or fish harvested by trawling. A processor member may be involved in marketing or dealing as an owner, agent, employee or broker. The Trawl Commission has eight members: two represent processors, five are fishers, and one is a public member. The commission meets at least quarterly in person in various locations including Astoria, Newport, Coos Bay and Brookings. During the next several months, the Trawl Commission is also recruiting for a new commission director to replace Brad Pettinger, who is stepping down after more than 12 years at the helm. In 2016, Pettinger was honored by the White House as a Champion of Change for his work in turning the Oregon trawl fishery from a declared disaster to one that has more than a dozen groundfish species certified to Marine Stewardship Council sustainability standards. The Trawl Commission is one of 23 commodity commissions that have legislative authority to collect an assessment from harvesters/producers of a particular commodity. Voluntary service as an Oregon commodity commissioner is an important leadership role for members of the state’s commercial fishing and agricultural industries, as well as for members of the public. Commissioners determine how to use the mandatory assessment to best benefit the industry through promotion, research and education programs. Commissioners are reimbursed for travel and receive a stipend for time spent at meetings. The Director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture appoints all commodity commissioners. The Director’s decision to appoint is based on factors such as candidate experience, commitment to service, industry input, inclusion, and diversity. To apply, find the application at go.usa.gov/xRf85 and send completed applications to the address shown on the top of the form. Applications must be received by December 15, 2017 to be considered. If a sufficient number are received before that date, ODA Director Alexis Taylor may make an appointment earlier. Names of all qualified applicants will be posted on the website. For more information, contact Kris Anderson, manager of the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Commission Oversight Program, at 503-872-6600.