Associated Press - July 10, 2009 8:15 AM ET

NEWPORT, Ore. (AP) - The head of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration - former Oregon State University marine biologist Jane Lubchenco - is coming to the Oregon Coast.

She will be at the Newport waterfront on Friday highlighting how federal stimulus funds are being used to clean up derelict crab pots that pose a hazard to fishing boats as well as marine life.

Afterwards, she will be meeting with commercial fishermen at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in what is being called a listening session.

Since taking over NOAA, Lubchenco has pushed for an overhaul of fishing regulations in New England by switching to a "catch share" system that allocates a total allowed catch to groups of fishermen, who divide it among themselves.

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