IPHC update

Jon Kurland is the new U.S. government commissioner on the International Pacific Halibut Commission.

Kurland heads the National Marine Fisheries Service in Alaska.

He fills the IPHC seat previously occupied by Glenn Merrill, who was a high-ranking official in the NMFS Alaska office before leaving for the private sector.

The revolving door, again

Glenn Merrill, a high-ranking official in the Alaska office of the National Marine Fisheries Service, has "separated from federal service" and "accepted a position in the private sector," this agency memo says.

Deckboss hears reliably that Merrill is going to work for Glacier Fish Co., a top trawl operator.

Merrill was assistant regional administrator in the Sustainable Fisheries Division.

His transition to the private sector means Merrill will vacate his seat as the U.S. government representative on the International Pacific Halibut Commission.

This certainly isn't the first time we've seen a regulator jump ship to join the ranks of the regulated. It happened last year.