Advisory Committee and Species Working Group Technical Advisor Appointments

AGENCY:

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION:

Nominations.

SUMMARY:

NMFS is soliciting nominations to the Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) as established by the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA). NMFS is also soliciting nominations for technical advisors to the Advisory Committee's species working groups.

DATES:

Nominations must be received by October 15, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

Nominations to the Advisory Committee or for technical advisors to a species working group should be sent to Dr. Rebecca Lent, Director, Office of International Affairs, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Room 12659, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. A copy should also be sent to Terra Lederhouse, Office of International Affairs, National Marine Fisheries Service, Room 12641, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Nominations can also be provided via fax (301-713-2313) or email (Rebecca.Lent@noaa.gov and Terra.Lederhouse@noaa.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Terra Lederhouse, 301-713-9090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 971b of ATCA (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.) requires that an advisory committee be established that shall be composed of: (1) not less than five nor more than 20 individuals appointed by the U.S. Commissioners to ICCAT who shall select such individuals from the various groups concerned with the fisheries covered by the ICCAT Convention; and (2) the chairs (or their designees) of the New England, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf Fishery Management Councils. Each member of the Advisory Committee appointed under paragraph (1) shall serve for a term of two years and shall be eligible for reappointment. Members of the Advisory Committee may attend all public meetings of the ICCAT Commission, Council, or any Panel and any other meetings to which they are invited by the ICCAT Commission, Council, or any Panel. The Advisory Committee shall be invited to attend all nonexecutive meetings of the U.S. Commissioners to ICCAT and, at such meetings, shall be given the opportunity to examine and be heard on all proposed programs of investigation, reports, recommendations, and regulations of the ICCAT Commission. Members of the Advisory Committee shall receive no compensation for such services. The Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of State may pay the necessary travel expenses of members of the Advisory Committee.

There are currently 20 appointed Advisory Committee members. These members' terms expire on December 31, 2008. New appointments will be made as soon as possible, but will not take effect until January 1, 2009.

Section 971b-1 of ATCA specifies that the U.S. Commissioners may establish species working groups for the purpose of providing advice and recommendations to the U.S. Commissioners and to the Advisory Committee on matters relating to the conservation and management of any highly migratory species covered by the ICCAT Convention. Any species working group shall consist of no more than seven members of the Advisory Committee and no more than four scientific or technical advisors, as considered necessary by the Commissioners. Currently, there are four species working groups advising the Committee and the U.S. Commissioners: a Bluefin Tuna Working Group, a Swordfish and Sharks Working Group, a Billfish Working Group, and a BAYS (Bigeye, Albacore, Yellowfin, and Skipjack) Tunas Working Group. Technical Advisors to the species working groups serve at the pleasure of the U.S. Commissioners; therefore, the Commissioners can choose to alter appointments at any time.

Nominations to the Advisory Committee or to a species working group should include a letter of interest and a resume or curriculum vitae. Letters of recommendation are useful but not required. Self-nominations are acceptable. When making a nomination, please clearly specify which appointment (Advisory Committee member or technical advisor to a species working group) is being sought. Requesting consideration for placement on both the Advisory Committee and a species working group is acceptable. Those interested in a species working group technical advisor appointment should indicate which of the four working groups is preferred. Placement on the requested species working group, however, is not guaranteed.