Author, former longline fisher Dean Adams speaking Oct. 12

Author Dean Adams will present “A Fisherman's Perspective of the Individual Fishing Quota System in Alaska - Before, During, and After Implementation” as part of Western Washington University’s Huxley College of the Environment Speaker Series at 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, in Communications Facility Room 125 on the Western campus.

The presentation is free and open to the public.

The initiation of the Individual Fishing Quota system in 1995 marked the end of the "derby fisheries" for the halibut and sablefish longline fisheries in Alaska. Adams' career in commercial longline fishing spanned the "derby years" and extended into the IFQ fishery. The IFQ system, a radical departure from traditional fishery management, has resulted in extended fishing seasons, minimized waste and bycatch of target and nontarget species, improved safety for the fishing industry, and improved food quality. As a consequence, the economic value of the resource has increase substantially.

Adams participated in the federal fisheries management process leading up to the implementation of the IFQ system both individually and as a representative for the Fishing Vessel Owners Association, a Seattle-based group of owner/operators in the Alaska longline fishery. He will tell the story from his perspective, which will include discussion of problems associated with the IFQ system – some anticipated, and some, not.

The remaining fall quarter speakers in the Huxley College of the Environment Speaker Series are:

• Oct. 19: Sustainable developer and author A-P Hurd will lead a discussion of his book, “The Carbon Efficient City” (http://www.carbonefficientcity.com/)
• Oct. 26: Kirsten Wert, Whatcom Council of Governments will offer practical advice on Smart Trips/Transportation in Bellingham.
• Nov. 2: Sylvia Yang of Western’s Shannon Point Marine Center will discuss organism-environment interactions in intertidal marine systems.
• Nov. 9: Jack Nisbet and David Douglas will present “A Naturalist at Work: An Illustrated Exploration Across Two Centuries in the Pacific Northwest.”
• Nov. 16: Screening (excerpts) and discussion of the film “American Meat” with director-producer Graham Meriwether.
• Nov. 30: The Future of Land, Land Trusts, and Food. Panelists: Laura Ridenour (Sustainable Connections), Steve Hollenhorst (dean of the Huxley College of the Environment), Jim Ashby (Community Food Co-op), Stephen Trinkaus (owner of Terra Organica and the Bellingham Public Market).
• Dec. 7: Scott Miles and Rebekah Green of Western’s Resilience Institute will speak on Japan's recovery in housing and critical infrastructure following its devastating earthquake and tsunami.

Anyone interested in these topics is encouraged to come and participate; the presentation will include a question-and-answer period. The speaker series is held by Western's Huxley College of the Environment to bring together the environmentally minded community and other interested members of the WWU and Bellingham communities. Speakers address topics of contemporary environmental concern in the region and the world.

For more information, please contact the main office of Huxley College of the Environment, at (360) 650-3520.

Western’s Huxley College of the Environment is one of the oldest environmental colleges in the nation and a recognized national leader in producing the next generation of environmental stewards. The College’s academic programs reflect a broad view of the physical, biological, social and cultural world. This innovative and interdisciplinary approach makes Huxley unique. The College has earned international recognition for the quality of its programs.