[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 17, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64186-64188]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-25097]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XB512
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Advisory Panel
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; solicitation of nominations.
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SUMMARY: NMFS solicits nominations for the Atlantic Highly Migratory
Species (HMS) Advisory Panel (AP). NMFS consults with and considers the
comments and views of the HMS AP when preparing and implementing
Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) or FMP amendments for Atlantic tunas,
swordfish, sharks, and billfish. Nominations are being sought to fill
approximately one-third (12) of the seats on the HMS AP for 3-year
appointments. Individuals with definable interests in the recreational
and commercial fishing and related industries, environmental community,
academia, and non-governmental organizations are considered for
membership on the HMS AP. NMFS also intends to fill an additional
vacancy on the HMS AP for the remainder of a term that expires on
December 31, 2023.
DATES: Nominations must be received on or before December 17, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may submit nominations and requests for the Advisory
Panel Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures by email to
[email protected]. Include in the subject line the following
identifier: ``HMS AP Nominations.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Cooper at (301) 427-8503.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Atlantic HMS fisheries are managed under the
dual authority of both the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and the
Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA; 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.
The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires the establishment of an AP for
each FMP for Atlantic HMS, i.e., tunas, swordfish, billfish, and
sharks. 16 U.S.C. 1854(g)(1)(A)-(B). Since the inception of the AP in
1998, NMFS has consulted with and considered the comments and views of
AP members when preparing and implementing Atlantic HMS FMPs or FMP
amendments. In this notice, NMFS solicits nominations for the Atlantic
HMS AP. Nominations are being sought to fill approximately one-third
(12) of the seats on the HMS AP for 3-year appointments. Individuals
with definable interests in the recreational and commercial fishing and
related industries, environmental community, academia, and non-
governmental organizations are considered for membership on the HMS AP
as described below. NMFS also intends to select a nominee to fill an
additional academic vacancy on the HMS AP for the remainder of a term
that expires on December 31, 2023. This vacancy is the result of a
sitting HMS AP member
[[Page 64187]]
moving to the HMS AP seat designated for the ICCAT Advisory Committee
Chair.
Procedures and Guidelines
A. Nomination Procedures for Appointments to the Advisory Panel
Nomination packages should include:
1. The name of the nominee and a description of his/her interest in
HMS or HMS fisheries, or in particular species of sharks, swordfish,
tunas, or billfish;
2. Contact information, including mailing address, phone, and email
of the nominee;
3. A statement of background and/or qualifications;
4. A written commitment that the nominee shall actively participate
in good faith, and consistent with ethics obligations, in the meetings
and tasks of the HMS AP; and
5. A list of outreach resources that the nominee has at his/her
disposal to communicate qualifications for HMS AP membership.
Qualification for membership includes one or more of the following:
(1) Experience in HMS recreational fisheries; (2) experience in HMS
commercial fisheries; (3) experience in fishery-related industries
(e.g., marinas, bait and tackle shops); (4) experience in the
scientific community working with HMS; and/or (5) representation of a
private, non-governmental, regional, national, or international
organization that represents marine fisheries, or environmental,
governmental, or academic interests regarding HMS.
Tenure for the HMS AP
Member tenure will be for 3 years, with approximately one-third of
the members' terms expiring on December 31 of each year. Nominations
are sought for terms beginning January 2022 and expiring December 2024.
NMFS also intends to select a nominee to fill an additional vacancy for
the remainder of a term that expires on December 31, 2023.
B. Participants
Nominations for the HMS AP will be accepted to allow representation
from commercial and recreational fishing interests, academic/scientific
interests, and the environmental/non-governmental organization
community, for individuals who are knowledgeable about Atlantic HMS
and/or Atlantic HMS fisheries. Current representation on the HMS AP, as
shown in Table 1, consists of 12 members representing commercial
interests, 12 members representing recreational interests, 4 members
representing environmental interests, 4 academic representatives, and
the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
(ICCAT) Advisory Committee Chair. NMFS seeks to fill 4 commercial, 4
recreational, 3 academic, and 1 environmental organization vacancies
for terms starting in 2022. In addition to these 12 vacancies, NMFS
also intends to select a nominee to fill an academic vacancy for the
remainder of the term that expires on December 31, 2023. This vacancy
is the result of a sitting HMS AP member moving to the HMS AP seat
designated for the ICCAT Advisory Committee Chair.
In filling vacancies, NMFS will seek to maintain the current
representation from each of the sectors. NMFS also considers species
expertise and representation from the fishing regions (Northeast, Mid-
Atlantic, Southeast, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean) to ensure the
diversity and balance of the HMS AP. Table 1 includes the current
representation on the HMS AP by sector, region, and species with terms
that are expiring identified in bold. It is not meant to indicate that
NMFS will only consider persons who have expertise in the species or
fishing regions that are listed. Rather, NMFS will aim toward having as
diverse and balanced an AP as possible. The intent is to have a group
that, as a whole, reflects an appropriate and equitable balance and mix
of interests given the responsibilities of the HMS AP.
Table 1--Current Representation on the HMS AP by Sector, Region, and Species
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Date term
Sector Fishing region Species Date appointed expires Member status
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Academic *........................... All......................... Swordfish/Tuna......... 1/1/2021 12/31/2023 Active.
Academic............................. All......................... Tuna................... 1/1/2019 12/31/2021 Expiring.
Academic............................. Gulf of Mexico/Southeast.... Shark.................. 1/1/2019 12/31/2021 Expiring.
Academic............................. Southeast................... Swordfish/HMS.......... 1/1/2019 12/31/2021 Expiring.
Commercial........................... Mid-Atlantic................ HMS/Shark.............. 1/1/2020 12/31/2022 Active.
Commercial........................... Mid-Atlantic................ Swordfish/Tuna......... 1/1/2020 12/31/2022 Active.
Commercial........................... Gulf of Mexico.............. Shark.................. 1/1/2020 12/31/2022 Active.
Commercial........................... Gulf of Mexico.............. Sharks................. 1/1/2021 12/31/2023 Active.
Commercial........................... Northeast................... Tuna................... 1/1/2021 12/31/2023 Active.
Commercial........................... Gulf of Mexico/Southeast.... Swordfish/Tuna......... 1/1/2021 12/31/2023 Active.
Commercial........................... Gulf of Mexico.............. Tuna................... 1/1/2021 12/31/2023 Active.
Commercial........................... Northeast................... Tuna................... 1/1/2021 12/31/2023 Active.
Commercial........................... Northeast/Southeast/Gulf of HMS/Tuna............... 1/1/2019 12/31/2021 Expiring.
Mexico.
Commercial........................... Southeast................... Shark.................. 1/1/2019 12/31/2021 Expiring.
Commercial........................... Southeast................... Swordfish/Tuna......... 1/1/2019 12/31/2021 Expiring.
Commercial........................... Northeast................... Swordfish/Tuna......... 1/1/2019 12/31/2021 Expiring.
Environmental........................ All......................... Tuna................... 1/1/2020 12/31/2022 Active.
Environmental........................ All......................... HMS.................... 1/1/2020 12/31/2022 Active.
Environmental........................ All......................... Shark.................. 1/1/2021 12/31/2023 Active.
Environmental........................ Caribbean................... HMS.................... 1/1/2019 12/31/2021 Expiring.
Recreational......................... Northeast................... HMS.................... 1/1/2020 12/31/2022 Active.
Recreational......................... Northeast................... Tuna/Sharks............ 1/1/2020 12/31/2022 Active.
Recreational......................... Mid-Atlantic................ HMS.................... 1/1/2020 12/31/2022 Active.
Recreational......................... Southeast................... Billfish............... 1/1/2020 12/31/2022 Active.
Recreational......................... Gulf of Mexico.............. HMS.................... 1/1/2020 12/31/2022 Active.
Recreational......................... All......................... Billfish............... 1/1/2021 12/31/2023 Active.
Recreational......................... Mid-Atlantic................ Shark.................. 1/1/2021 12/31/2023 Active.
Recreational......................... Southeast/Mid Atlantic...... Billfish............... 1/1/2021 12/31/2023 Active.
Recreational......................... Northeast................... Tuna/Shark............. 1/1/2019 12/31/2021 Expiring.
Recreational......................... Gulf of Mexico/Southeast.... HMS.................... 1/1/2019 12/31/2021 Expiring.
[[Page 64188]]
Recreational......................... Mid-Atlantic................ HMS.................... 1/1/2019 12/31/2021 Expiring.
Recreational......................... Southeast................... HMS/Billfish........... 1/1/2019 12/31/2021 Expiring.
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Note: Terms that are expiring or associated with current members stepping down are identified in bold and marked as ``Expiring''. * Designates term
shift to the HMS AP seat designated for the ICCAT Advisory Committee Chair.
Five additional members on the HMS AP include one member
representing each of the following Councils: New England Fishery
Management Council, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, the
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery
Management Council, and the Caribbean Fishery Management Council. The
HMS AP also includes 22 ex-officio participants: 20 representatives of
the coastal states and 2 representatives of the interstate commissions
(the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Gulf States
Marine Fisheries Commission).
NMFS will provide the necessary administrative support, including
technical assistance, for the HMS AP. However, NMFS will not compensate
participants with monetary support of any kind. Depending on
availability of funds, members may be reimbursed for travel costs
related to the HMS AP meetings.
C. Meeting Schedule
Meetings of the HMS AP will be held as frequently as necessary but
are routinely held twice each year. In recent years, meetings have been
held once in the spring, and once in the fall. The meetings may be held
in conjunction with public hearings.
Dated: November 12, 2021.
Michael Ruccio,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-25097 Filed 11-16-21; 8:45 am]
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