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NOAA staff departures: union warns 20–25% losses at West Coast science offices could slow surveys, assessments
Summary
A union representative told the Pacific Fishery Management Council that recent departures, hiring freezes and canceled contracts have reduced staff at Northwest and Southwest Fisheries Science Centers by roughly 20–25%, creating immediate pressure on surveys, contracts and stock assessment timelines.
The council heard testimony from the union representing Northwest and Southwest Fisheries Science Center employees that recent staff departures, hiring freezes and paused contracts have sharply reduced capacity at NOAA Fisheries and could reduce the agency’s ability to complete key survey and assessment work on schedule.
Melissa Head, a union representative for IFPTE Local 8‑a, told the council “Since January 20, we lost about 20% of staff at the Northwest and Southwest Fishery Science Centers and over 30% of staff at the West Coast region to terminations,…
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