03-2837. Call for Applications for Representatives and Alternates to the Northewestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve Advisory Council for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve

AGENCY:

National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION:

Notice and request for applications.

SUMMARY:

The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve is seeking applicants for the following vacant seats on its Reserve Advisory Council (Council): (1) Conservation, (2) Research, (1) Ocean-Related Tourism, (1) Recreational Fishing, (1) Education, (1) Citizen-At-Large. Council Representatives and Alternates are chosen based upon their particular expertise and experience in relation to the seat for which they are applying; community and professional affiliations; philosophy regarding the protection and management of marine resources; and possibly the length of residence in the area affected by the Sanctuary. Applicants who are chosen as Representatives or Alternates should expect to serve three-year terms, pursuant to the Council's Charter. Persons who are interested in applying for membership on the Council as either a Representative or Alternate may obtain an application from the person or website identified under the ADDRESSES section below.

DATES:

Completed applications must be postmarked no later than February 28, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Applications may be obtained from Moani, Pai, 6700 Kalanianaole Highway, Suite 215, Honolulu, Hawaii 96825, [phone] or online at http://hawaiireef.noaa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Aulani Wilheim, 6700 Kalanianaole Highway, Suite 215, Honolulu, Hawaii 96825, [phone], [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The NWHI Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve is a new marine protected area to conserve and protect the coral reef ecosystem and related natural and cultural resources of the area. The Reserve was established by Executive Order pursuant to the National Marine Sanctuaries Amendments Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-513). The NWHI Reserve was established by Executive Order 13178 (December 2000) and Executive Order 13196 (January 2001).

The Reserve encompasses an area of the marine waters and submerged lands of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, extending approximately 1200 nautical miles long and 100 nautical miles wide. The Reserve is adjacent to and seaward of the seaward boundary of Hawaii State waters and submerged lands and the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, and includes the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge to the extent it extends beyond Hawaii State waters and submerged lands. The Reserve is managed by the Secretary of Commerce pursuant to the National Marine Sanctuaries Act and the Executive Orders. The Secretary has also initiated the process to designate the Reserve as a National Marine Sanctuary. The management principles and implementation strategy and requirements for the Reserve are found in the enabling Executive Orders, which are part of the application kit and can be found on the website listed above.

In designating the Reserve, the Secretary of Commerce was directed to establish a Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve Advisory Council, pursuant to section 315 of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, to provide advice and recommendations on the development of the Reserve Operations Plan and the designation and management of a Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Marine Sanctuary by the Secretary.

The National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP) has established the Reserve Advisory Council and is now accepting applications from interested individuals for Council Representatives and Alternates for the following seven citizen/constituent positions on the Council:

1. Two (2) representatives from the non-Federal science community with experience specific to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and with expertise in at least one of the following areas:

A. Marine mammal science.

B. Coral reef ecology.

C. Native marine flora and fauna of the Hawaiian Islands.

D. Oceanography.

E. Any other scientific discipline the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

2. One (1) representative from a non-governmental wildlife/marine life, environmental, and/or conservation organization.

3. One (1) representative from the recreational fishing industry that conducts activities in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

4. One (1) representative from the ocean-related tourism industry.

5. One (1) representative from the non-Federal community with experience in education and outreach regarding marine conservation issues.

6. One (1) citizen-at-large representative.

Current Reserve Council Representatives and Alternates may re-apply for these vacant seats.

The Council consists of 25 members, 15 of which are non-government voting members and 10 of which are government non-voting members. The voting members are representatives of the following constituencies: Conservation, Citizen-At-Large, Ocean-Related Tourism, Recreational Fishing, Research, Commercial Fishing, Education, State of Hawaii and Native Hawaiian. The government non-voting seats are represented by the following agencies: Department of Defense, Department of the Interior, Department of State, Marine Mammal Commission, NOAA's Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service, National Science Foundation, U.S. Coast Guard, Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, and NOAA's National Ocean Service.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431, et seq.

(Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog Number 11.429 Marine Sanctuary Program)

Dated: January 29, 2003.

Jamison S. Hawkins,

Acting Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management.