2025-01381. Nominations for the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission Permanent Advisory Committee

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Department of Commerce

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

1. [RTID 0648-XE382]

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice of request for nominations.

SUMMARY:

NMFS is soliciting nominations (which may include self-nominations) to the Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to the Permanent Advisory Committee (PAC) as established under the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention (WCPFC) Implementation Act (Act). The PAC, composed of individuals from groups concerned with the fisheries covered by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention (Convention), provides recommendations to the U.S. Commissioners to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (Commission) regarding the deliberations and decisions of the Commission.

DATES:

Nominations must be received by March 24, 2025.

ADDRESSES:

Nominations, including a letter of interest and a resume or curriculum vitae, should be sent via email to Katrina Poremba at [e-mail]. Include in the subject line the nomination for a position as an Advisory Committee member.

The following information should be included in the nomination documents: (1) full name, address, telephone, and email address of nominee; (2) nominee's organization(s) or professional affiliation(s) serving as the basis for the nomination, if any; and (3) a background statement, not to exceed one page in length, describing the nominee's qualifications, experience and interests, specifically as related to the fisheries covered by the Convention.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Katrina Poremba, NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office; 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818; email: [e-mail]; phone: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Convention and the Commission

The objective of the Convention is to ensure, through effective management, the long-term conservation and sustainable use of highly migratory fish stocks in the western and central Pacific Ocean in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 (UNCLOS) and the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the UNCLOS Relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks. The Convention establishes the Commission, the secretariat of which is based in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia.

The Convention applies to all highly migratory fish stocks (defined as all fish stocks of the species listed in Annex I of the UNCLOS occurring in the Convention Area, and such other species of fish as the Commission may determine), except sauries.

The United States actively supported the negotiations and the development of the Convention and signed the Convention when it was opened for signature in 2000. It participated as a cooperating non-member of the Commission since it became operational in 2005. The United States became a Contracting Party to the Convention and a full member of the Commission when it ratified the Convention in January 2007. Under the Act, the United States is to be represented on the Commission by five U.S. Commissioners, appointed by the President.

Permanent Advisory Committee

The Act provides in section 6902(d) that the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the U.S. Commissioners to the Commission, will appoint individuals as members of the advisory committee established under the Act, referred to here as the PAC.

The appointed members of the Permanent Advisory Committee are to include not less than 15 nor more than 20 individuals selected from the various groups concerned with the fisheries covered by the Convention, providing, to the extent practicable, an equitable balance among such groups. On behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, NMFS is now seeking nominations for these appointments.

In addition to the 15-20 appointed members, the Permanent Advisory Committee includes the chair of the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council's Advisory Committee (or designee), and officials of the fisheries management authorities of American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (or their designees).

Members of the Permanent Advisory Committee will be invited to attend all non-executive meetings of the U.S. Commissioners to the Commission and at such meetings will be given the opportunity to examine and be heard on all proposed programs of investigation, reports, recommendations, and regulations of the Commission. Members of the Permanent Advisory Committee are also invited to participate in meetings of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, as members of the United States' delegation.

Each appointed member of the Permanent Advisory Committee will serve for a term of 2 years and is eligible for reappointment. This request for nominations is for the term to begin on August 3, 2025, and is for a term of 2 consecutive years.

All members of the Advisory Committee are appointed in their individual professional capacity and undergo a background screening. Any individual appointed to the Committee who is unable to attend all or part of an Advisory Committee meeting may not appoint another person to attend such meetings as their proxy. Nominees should be able to fulfill the time and travel commitments required to participate in the Committee's meeting(s). The meetings are normally 2 to 3 days long and can be held virtually or in Honolulu, Hawaii. ( print page 7081)

The Secretaries of Commerce and State will furnish the Permanent Advisory Committee with relevant information concerning fisheries and international fishery agreements.

NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, will provide to the Permanent Advisory Committee administrative and technical support services as are necessary for its effective functioning.

Appointed members of the Permanent Advisory Committee will serve without pay, but while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the advisory committee will be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons employed intermittently in the Government service are allowed expenses under 5 U.S.C. 5703. They will not be considered Federal employees while performing service as members of the advisory committee except for the purposes of injury compensation or tort claims liability as provided in chapter 81 of title 5 and chapter 171 of title 28.

Procedure for Submitting Nominations

Nominations for the Permanent Advisory Committee should be submitted to NMFS (see ADDRESSES ). This request for nominations is for first-time nominees as well as previous and current Permanent Advisory Committee members. Self-nominations are acceptable. Nominations should include a letter of interest and a resume or curriculum vitae that covers the following information: (1) full name, address, telephone, and email address of nominee; (2) nominee's organization(s) or professional affiliation(s) serving as the basis for the nomination, if any; and (3) a background statement, not to exceed one page in length, describing the nominee's qualifications, experience and interests, specifically as related to the fisheries covered by the Convention.

NMFS encourages nominations of diverse people including women and individuals from underserved communities that meet the knowledge, experience, and other requirements of the positions described in this notice. See Executive Order (E.O.) 13985 (Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government) section 2 (defining “underserved communities” as “populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life,” “such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.”). E.O. 13985 is available at https://www.federalregister.gov/​documents/​2021/​01/​25/​2021-01753/​advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government.

Authority:16 U.S.C. 6902.

Dated: January 15, 2025.

Karen H. Abrams,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.