Commissioners favor Rice's whale / Gulf focus for next in‑person meeting; Alaska outreach also proposed

As the meeting wound toward adjournment, Commissioners and advisers brainstormed venues and themes for a spring in‑person annual meeting. Several participants recommended a Gulf focus highlighting Rice's whale science and Deepwater Horizon restoration funding; suggested host cities included New Orleans, Mobile and St. Petersburg, Florida. "Rice's whale... there's a lot of exciting work going on with Rice's whales," Lori said, noting restoration funds have been a major research driver in the Gulf.

Others urged considering Charleston or a regional Alaska outreach effort focused on subsistence and Arctic issues; participants also flagged opportunities to piggyback Commission presence on major conferences (e.g., AMSS) or to convene targeted listening sessions with Alaskan communities. Chair Francis Gulland and other Commissioners expressed support for a Gulf‑focused Rice's whale meeting while recognizing access and logistics concerns.

No final decision was taken; staff were asked to develop venue options, potential field trip opportunities, and a draft agenda that could accommodate Rice's whale science, Gulf restoration updates and select regional concerns including Alaska outreach.