[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 157 (Monday, August 16, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44503-44504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-21194]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 080499C]
Advisory Panels on Billfish and Highly Migratory Species
Fisheries
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of intent; request for nominations.
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SUMMARY: NMFS solicits nominations for the Billfish and Highly
Migratory Species (HMS) advisory panels (APs). The purpose of the APs
is to assist NMFS in the collection and evaluation of information
relevant to the development of management plans, plan amendments, and
regulatory amendments for Atlantic billfish and for Atlantic tunas,
swordfish, and sharks. The APs include representatives from all
interests in HMS fisheries.
DATES: Nominations must be submitted on or before September 13, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Nominations should be submitted by mail to Rebecca Lent,
Highly Migratory Species Management Division, NMFS, 1315 East-West
Highway, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, or by fax: 301-713-1917.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jill Stevenson or Alicon Morgan at
(301) 713-2347.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act, (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., as
amended by the Sustainable Fisheries Act, Public Law 104-297, two
Advisory Panels (APs) were established in 1997 to consult with NMFS in
the collection and evaluation of information relevant to the
development of fishery management plans (FMPs), FMP amendments, and
regulatory amendments under the framework provisions for Atlantic
billfish and Atlantic tunas, swordfish and sharks. Members of these two
APs were selected to serve for approximately 2 years. The HMS AP
Statement of Organization, Practices and Procedures (SOPPs) call for
half of the AP members to be replaced after 2 years, with the other
half being replaced 6 months later. This staggered renewal process was
designed to allow for a more gradual adjustment as the AP members are
replaced. The HMS AP SOPPs further state that, of the 22 non-federal
members of the AP, 8 are representatives of the commercial fisheries
for Atlantic HMS, 7 are representatives of the recreational fisheries
for Atlantic HMS, 6 are from the academic and environmental community
active in the conservation and management of Atlantic HMS, and 1 is
from the U.S. Advisory Committee to the International Commission for
the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). The Billfish AP SOPPs
indicate that the membership term for all members of the Billfish AP
expired June 1, 1999. Of the 7 non-federal voting members of the
Billfish AP, 4 are representatives of the recreational fisheries for
Atlantic HMS, 1 is a representative of commercial fisheries for whom
billfish are incidental catch or bycatch, 1 is a representative of the
environmental organizations active the conservation and management of
Atlantic billfish, and 1 is a representative of the academic community.
Five additional members of the HMS AP include one representative
each of the 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 constituent states and
2 representatives of the constituent interstate commissions: the
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Gulf States Marine
Fisheries Commission.
Five additional voting members of the Billfish AP include one
representative each of the 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 Billfish AP also includes
23 non-voting members: 20 representatives of the constituent states, 2
representatives of the constituent interstate commissions; the Atlantic
States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Gulf States Marine Fisheries
Commission; and the chair, or his or her designee, of the U.S. Advisory
Committee to ICCAT.
In order to determine which HMS AP members are to be replaced
within 2 years and which within 2 1/2 years, NMFS selected every odd-
numbered member from an alphabetically ordered list of the original
appointees. Nevertheless, NMFS is soliciting nominations for replacing
the entire membership of the AP at this time, with some new members to
begin their 2-year term on October 11, 1999, and others on April 6,
2000. Selection of AP members will not be limited to those that are
nominated.
The following HMS AP members' terms expire October 11, 1999:
Recreational representatives - Joe McBride, Ray Bogan, Bob Eakes and
Mark Sampson; Commercial representatives - Rich Ruais and Peter Weiss;
and academic/environmental representatives: John Dean, Sonja
[[Page 44504]]
Fordham, Bob Hueter and John Wingard.
The following HMS AP members' terms expire April 6, 2000:
Recreational representatives - Jim Donofrio, Ellen Peel and Bob Zales;
Commercial representatives - Nelson Beideman, Russell Hudson, Robert
Fitzpatrick, Gail Johnson and Bob Spaeth; academic/environmental
representatives - Carl Safina and David Wilmot; and ICCAT
representative - John Graves.
All Billfish AP members' terms expired June 1, 1999. NMFS is
soliciting nominations for replacing the entire membership of the
Billfish AP.
The purpose of the APs is to assist NMFS in the development of
FMPs, FMP amendments, and regulatory amendments under the FMP framework
provisions for Atlantic billfish and Atlantic tunas, swordfish and
sharks. The APs assist NMFS in meeting the requirements of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act throughout the FMP development process.
Procedures and Guidelines
Procedures for Selecting Advisory Panel Members
Individuals with 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 nominated. Nominations may include current members of
the billfish or HMS APs.
Nominations are invited from all individuals and constituent
groups. The nomination should include:
1. Indication of whether the nomination is for the billfish AP, HMS
AP, or both APs;
2. The name of the applicant or nominee and a description of his or
her interest in or connection with billfish (for billfish AP) or with
one species in particular from among billfish, sharks, swordfish, and
tunas (for HMS AP);
3. A statement of background and/or qualifications; and
4. A written commitment that the applicant or nominee shall
actively participate in good faith in the tasks of the AP.
Participants
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:
1. Experience in the recreational fishing industry involved in
catching swordfish, tunas, or sharks;
2. Experience in the commercial fishing industry for HMS;
3. Experience in connected industries (marinas, bait and tackle
shops);
4. Experience in the scientific community working with HMS; and
5. Former or current representative of a 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, NMFS will be unable to
compensate participants with monetary support for their labor, as no
funds were appropriated to support this activity in fiscal year 1999.
Funding for travel costs of AP members is not always available;
therefore, AP members may be expected to pay for travel costs related
to the AP.
Tentative Schedule
Meetings of the AP will be held twice yearly or more frequently as
necessary; the APs will meet jointly every year, in January or in
February to review the Annual SAFE Report and to consider future
management actions. Upcoming activities include consideration of
regulatory amendments under the framework provisions, particularly
measures to address bycatch.
Dated: August 10, 1999.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-21194 Filed 8-13-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
