[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 154 (Tuesday, August 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42827-42828]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-21394]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 080498A]


Advisory Committee and Species Working Group Technical Advisor 
Appointments

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

ACTION: Nominations.

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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 are due by September 25, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Nominations to the Advisory Committee or to a species 
working group should be sent to: Mr. Rolland A. Schmitten, Assistant 
Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Department of 
Commerce, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, with a copy 
sent to Kim Blankenbeker, International Fisheries Division, Office of 
Sustainable Fisheries, Room 13114, NMFS, 1315 East West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Blankenbeker, 301-713-2276.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 971b of the 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 item (1) above shall serve for a term of 2 
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 to 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 their services as such members. 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. The 
terms of these members expire on December 31, 1998. New appointments 
will be made this Fall, but will not take effect until January 1, 1999.
    Section 971b-1 of the 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 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 
personnel, as considered necessary by the Commissioners. Currently, 
there are four species working groups advising the Committee and the 
U.S. Commissioners. Specifically, there is a Bluefin Tuna Working 
Group, a Swordfish Working Group, a Billfish Working Group, and a BAYS 
(Bigeye, Albacore, Yellowfin, and Skipjack) Working Group. Technical 
Advisors to 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.


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    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.

    Dated: August 4, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-21394 Filed 8-10-98; 8:45 am]
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