[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 204 (Monday, October 24, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64203-64204]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-23055]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XC447]
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Highly Migratory
Species Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review Workshops Advisory Panel
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; nominations for shark stock assessment advisory panel.
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SUMMARY: NMFS solicits nominations for the Atlantic Highly Migratory
Species (HMS) Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) Workshops
Advisory Panel, also known as the ``SEDAR Pool.'' The SEDAR Pool is
comprised of a group of individuals who may be selected to consider
data and advise NMFS regarding the scientific information including,
but not limited to, data and models used in stock assessments for
oceanic sharks in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean
Sea. Nominations are being sought for 5-year appointments (2023-2028).
Individuals with definable interests in the recreational and commercial
fishing and related industries, environmental community, academia, and
non-governmental organizations will be considered for membership on the
SEDAR Pool.
DATES: Nominations must be received on or before November 23, 2022.
ADDRESSES: You may submit nominations and request the SEDAR Pool
Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures electronically via
email to [email protected].
Additional information on SEDAR and the SEDAR guidelines can be
found
[[Page 64204]]
at http://sedarweb.org/. The terms of reference for the SEDAR Pool,
along with a list of current members, can be found at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/atlantic-highly-migratory-species/southeast-data-assessment-and-review-and-atlantic-highly.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karyl Brewster-Geisz, (301) 425-8503.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Atlantic HMS fisheries (tunas, billfish,
swordfish, and sharks) are managed under the authority of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act;
16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (16
U.S.C. 971 et seq.). The 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS Fishery
Management Plan (2006 Consolidated HMS FMP) and its amendments are
implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 635.
Background
Section 302(g)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act states that each
Council shall establish such advisory panels as are necessary or
appropriate to assist it in carrying out its functions under the Act.
For the purposes of this section, NMFS applies the above provision to
Atlantic HMS management (see section 304(g)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Act, which provides that the Secretary will prepare FMPs for HMS and
consult with advisory panels under section 302(g) for such FMPs). As
such, NMFS has established the SEDAR Pool under this section. The SEDAR
Pool currently consists of 32 individuals, each of whom may be selected
to review data and advise NMFS regarding the scientific information
including, but not limited to, data and models used in stock
assessments for oceanic sharks in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico,
and Caribbean Sea. While the SEDAR Pool was created specifically for
Atlantic oceanic sharks, it may be expanded to include other HMS, as
needed.
The primary responsibility of individuals in the SEDAR Pool is to
review, at SEDAR workshops, the scientific information including, but
not limited to, data and models used in stock assessments that are used
to advise NMFS about the conservation and management of Atlantic HMS
specifically, but not limited to, Atlantic sharks. Individuals in the
SEDAR Pool, if selected for a particular workshop, may participate in
the various data, assessment, and review workshops during the SEDAR
process of any HMS stock assessment. In order to ensure that the review
is unbiased, individuals who participated in a data and/or assessment
workshop for a particular stock assessment will not be allowed to serve
as SEDAR Pool reviewers for the same stock assessment. However, these
individuals may be asked to attend the review workshop to answer
specific questions from the reviewers concerning the data and/or
assessment workshops. Members of the SEDAR Pool may serve as members of
other advisory panels concurrent with, or following, their service on
the SEDAR Pool.
Procedures and Guidelines
A. Participants
The SEDAR Pool is comprised of individuals representing the
commercial and recreational fishing communities for Atlantic sharks,
the environmental community active in the conservation and management
of Atlantic sharks, and the academic community that have relevant
expertise either with sharks and/or stock assessment methodologies for
marine fish species. In addition, individuals who may not necessarily
work directly with sharks, but who are involved in fisheries with
similar life history, biology, and fishery issues may be part of the
SEDAR Pool. Members of the SEDAR Pool must have demonstrated experience
in the fisheries, related industries, research, teaching, writing,
conservation, or management of marine organisms. The distribution of
representation among the interested parties is not defined or limited.
Additional members of the SEDAR Pool may also include
representatives from each of the 5 Atlantic Regional Fishery Management
Councils, each of the 18 Atlantic states, both the U.S. Virgin Islands
and Puerto Rico, and each of the relevant interstate commissions: the
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Gulf States Marine
Fisheries Commission.
If NMFS requires additional members to ensure a diverse pool of
individuals for data or assessment workshops, NMFS may request
individuals to become members of the SEDAR Pool outside of the annual
nomination period.
SEDAR Pool members serve at the discretion of the Secretary. Not
all members will attend each SEDAR workshop. Rather, NMFS will invite
certain members to participate at specific stock assessment workshops
dependent on their ability to participate, discuss, and offer
scientific input and advice regarding the species being assessed.
NMFS is not obligated to fulfill any requests (e.g., requests for
an assessment of a certain species) that may be made by the SEDAR Pool
or its individual members. Members of the SEDAR Pool who are invited to
attend stock assessment workshops will not be compensated for their
services, but may be reimbursed for their travel-related expenses to
attend such workshops.
B. Nomination Procedures for Appointments to the SEDAR Pool
Member tenure will be for 5 years. Nominations are sought for terms
beginning early in 2023 and expiring in 2028. Nomination packages
should include:
1. The name, address, phone number, and email of the applicant or
nominee;
2. A description of the applicant's or nominee's interest in
Atlantic shark stock assessments or the Atlantic shark fishery;
3. A statement of the applicant's or nominee's background and/or
qualifications; and
4. A written commitment that the applicant or nominee shall
participate actively and in good faith in the tasks of the SEDAR Pool,
as requested.
C. Meeting Schedule
Individual members of the SEDAR Pool meet to participate in stock
assessments at the discretion of the Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
NMFS. Stock assessment timing, frequency, and relevant species will
vary depending on the needs determined by NMFS and SEDAR staff. NMFS
began in 2022 and will continue into 2024, a research track assessment
to be followed by an operational assessment for the hammerhead shark
species in the hammerhead shark management group. Following the
hammerhead operational assessment, NMFS anticipates beginning a
research track assessment for bull, spinner, tiger, and finetooth
sharks. During an assessment year, meetings and meeting logistics will
be determined according to the SEDAR Guidelines. All meetings are open
for observation by the public.
Dated: October 19, 2022.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-23055 Filed 10-21-22; 8:45 am]
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