[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 38 (Wednesday, February 26, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8686-8687]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4655]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 022097A]
Advisory Panel on Atlantic Pelagic Longline Fisheries
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: NMFS solicits nominations for the Atlantic pelagics longline
advisory panel (AP). The purpose of the AP would be to assist NMFS in
the design and implementation of a survey, workshops, and a
comprehensive management system for pelagic longline fisheries. The AP
will include representatives from all constituent groups with an
interest in Atlantic pelagic longline fisheries.
DATES: Nominations must be submitted on or before March 28, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Nominations should be submitted Rebecca Lent, Highly
Migratory Species Management Division, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway,
Silver Spring, MD, 20910. Nominations may be submitted by fax; 301-713-
1917.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Kelly, 301-713-2347.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
In accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., as amended by the Sustainable
Fisheries Act, Public Law 104-297, an Advisory Panel (AP) will be
established to assist NMFS in the design and implementation of a
survey, workshops, and a comprehensive management system for pelagic
longlining fishing vessels that participate in fisheries for Atlantic
highly migratory species (HMS).
The purpose of the AP is to assist in developing a comprehensive
management system for pelagic longline
[[Page 8687]]
fishing vessels that participate in HMS fisheries. Surveys and
workshops will be conducted by NMFS personnel and/or contractors with
affected fishery participants, in order to provide information and
identify options for the development of the management system. NMFS, in
consultation with the AP, will develop a plan to conduct a study on the
feasibility of implementing a comprehensive management system.
Procedures and Guidelines
A. Procedures for Establishing the Advisory Panel.
Individuals representing definable interests in the recreational
and commercial fishing and related industries, environmental community,
academia, governmental and quasi-governmental entities will be
considered as members of the AP. Selection of AP members will not be
limited to those that are nominated.
Nominations are invited from all individuals and constituent
groups. The nomination should include:
1. The name of the applicant or nominee and a description of their
interest in or connection with HMS and the pelagic longline fishery in
particular;
2. A statement of background and/or qualifications;
3. A written commitment that the applicant or nominee shall
actively participate in good faith in the tasks of the AP.
B. Participants.
The AP shall consist of not less than seven (7) members who are
knowledgeable about the Atlantic pelagic longline fishery. Nominations
will be accepted to allow representation from recreational and
commercial fishing interests, the conservation community, and the
scientific community. NMFS does not believe that each potentially
affected organization or individual must necessarily have its own
representative, but each interest must be adequately represented. The
intent is to have a group that as a whole reflects an appropriate
balance and mix of interests given the responsibilities of the AP.
Criteria for membership include (one or more of the following): a)
Experience in or knowledge of the commercial longline fishing industry
involved in harvesting tunas, swordfish, or sharks; b) experience in or
knowledge of the recreational fishing industry involved in harvesting
HMS; c) experience in connected industries (marinas, bait and tackle
shops, processors); d) experience in the scientific community working
with HMS; e) former or current representative of private, regional,
state, national, or international organization representing marine
fisheries interests dealing with HMS.
NMFS will provide the necessary administrative support, including
technical assistance, for the AP. However, we will be unable to
compensate participants with monetary support of any kind because no
funds were appropriated to support this activity in fiscal year 1997.
Members will be expected to pay for travel costs related to the AP.
C. Tentative Schedule.
Meetings of the AP will be held twice or thrice yearly. NMFS, in
consultation with the AP, will develop by June 1997, a plan to conduct
workshops/surveys and results of these workshops and surveys will be
published by December 1997. A plan to conduct a feasibility study of
the comprehensive management plan will be developed by July 1997 and
the final study will be published and distributed by January 1998. NMFS
has initially determined that the responsibilities of the AP members
will be concluded by October 1998, as management advisory
responsibilities will be carried out by other AP's for swordfish,
sharks, billfish, and tunas. These AP's will consider any comprehensive
management plan that is developed in consultation with this longline
AP.
Dated: February 19, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-4655 Filed 2-25-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
