[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 166 (Wednesday, August 27, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51560-51561]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-21951]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 082003C]


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Advisory Panels

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

ACTION: Notice; Highly Migratory Species and Billfish Advisory Panel 
Meetings; Request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: NMFS will hold a Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel (HMS 
AP) meeting September 30, 2003, for Atlantic Shark management in Silver 
Spring, MD. Also, a joint meeting of the Atlantic HMS AP and the 
Atlantic Billfish Advisory Panel (Billfish AP) will be held February 9 
through 11, 2004, in Silver Spring, MD. Additionally, NMFS solicits 
nominations for the HMS AP and the Billfish AP. The intent of these 
Advisory Panel meetings is to consider alternatives for the 
conservation and management of highly migratory species.

DATES: The HMS AP Shark management meeting will be held from 9:30 a.m. 
to 4:30 p.m. on September 30, 2003. The joint HMS-Billfish AP meeting 
will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, February 9, 2004, from 8 
a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, February 10, 2004, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
on Wednesday, February 11, 2004.
    Nominations must be submitted on or before October 10, 2003.

ADDRESSES: The AP meetings will be held at the Holiday Inn, 8777 
Georgia Avenue (Rt. 97), Silver Spring, MD 20910. Phone: (301) 589-
0800.
    Nominations and requests for the AP Statement of Organization, 
Practices, and Procedures should be submitted in writing to Christopher 
Rogers, Chief, 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: Othel Freeman or Carol Douglas (301) 
713-2347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    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, Advisory 
Panels (AP) have been established to consult with NMFS in the 
collection and evaluation of information relevant to the HMS FMP (April 
1999) and the Billfish FMP Amendment (April 1999). Nominations are 
being sought to fill one-third of the posts of the HMS AP for 3-year 
appointments, and one-half of the posts of the Billfish AP for 2-year 
appointments. The nomination process and appointments are required by 
the Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures for each AP. 
The purpose of the HMS AP is to advise and assist the Secretary of 
Commerce (Secretary) in the collection and evaluation of information 
relevant to any amendment to the HMS FMP. The HMS AP evaluates future 
management options for Atlantic tunas, swordfish, and sharks under the 
requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
    The purpose of the Billfish AP is to advise and assist the 
Secretary in the collection and evaluation of information relevant to 
any amendment to the Billfish FMP. The Billfish AP evaluates future 
management options for Atlantic billfish under the requirements of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act.
    Procedures and Guidelines

A. Procedures for Appointing the Advisory Panels

    Individuals with definable interests in the recreational and 
commercial fishing and related industries, environmental community, 
academia, governmental entities, and non-governmental organizations 
will be considered for membership in the AP.
    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 highly migratory species (HMS) or one species in particular 
from among sharks, swordfish, tunas, and billfish;
    2. A statement of background and/or qualifications;
    3. The AP to which the applicant seeks appointment;
    4. A written commitment that the applicant or nominee shall 
actively participate in good faith in the tasks of the AP; and
    5. Outreach Resources.
    Tenure for the HMS AP:
    Member tenure will be for 3 years, with one-third of the members' 
terms expiring on the last day of each calendar year. All appointments 
will be for 3 years (36 months).
    Tenure for the Billfish AP:
    Member tenure will be for 2 years, with one-half of the terms 
expiring on the last day of each calendar year. All appointments will 
be for 2 years (24 months).

B. Participants

    The HMS AP consists of not less than 23 members who are 
knowledgeable about the fisheries for all Atlantic HMS species. The 
Billfish AP consists of not less than nine members who are 
knowledgeable about the fisheries for all Atlantic billfish species. 
Nominations for each AP 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 
area of interest must be adequately represented. The intent is to have 
a group that, as a

[[Page 51561]]

whole, reflects an appropriate and equitable balance and mix of 
interests given the responsibilities of each AP. Criteria for 
membership include one or more of the following: (a) experience in the 
recreational fishing industry involved in catching swordfish, tunas, 
billfish, or sharks; (b) experience in the commercial fishing industry 
for HMS; (c) experience in fishery-related industries (marinas, bait 
and tackle shops); (d) experience in the scientific community working 
with HMS; (e) representation of a private, non-governmental, regional, 
(non-Federal) state, national, or international organization 
representing marine fisheries, environmental, governmental or academic 
interests dealing with HMS.
    Five additional members of the AP include one voting 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 AP also includes 22 ex-
officio participants: 20 representatives of the constituent states and 
two representatives of the constituent interstate commissions: the 
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Gulf States Marine 
Fisheries Commission.
    NMFS will provide the necessary administrative support, including 
technical assistance, for the AP. However, NMFS will not compensate 
participants with monetary support of any kind. Depending on 
availability of funds, members may be reimbursed for travel costs 
related to the AP meetings.

C. Meeting Schedule

    Meetings of each AP will be held as frequently as necessary but are 
routinely held once each year in the Spring. Often the meetings are 
held jointly, and may be held in conjunction with other advisory panel 
meetings or public hearings.
    The HMS AP meeting on September 30, 2003, will focus on Atlantic 
shark management. NMFS published a proposed rule and notice of 
availability of Draft Amendment 1 to the HMS FMP on August 1, 2003 (68 
FR 45196). The 60-day comment period ends on September 30, 2003. Since 
the alternatives presented in Draft Amendment 1 apply only to 
management measures for Atlantic sharks, the HMS AP discussion will be 
limited to Atlantic shark management. There will be time for the public 
to comment on shark management at the end of the meeting.
    The joint HMS-Billfish AP meeting in February 2004 will focus on 
management alternatives for Atlantic tunas, swordfish, sharks, and 
billfish. On July 9, 2003, NMFS published a notice of intent to prepare 
an Environmental Impact Statement for Amendment 2 to the HMS FMP and 
Amendment 2 to the Billfish FMP (68 FR 40907). Amendment 2 to the HMS 
FMP is intended to address issues regarding quota allocation of 
Atlantic bluefin tuna, swordfish, and sharks among and within domestic 
fishing categories, examine management alternatives to improve and 
streamline the current HMS limited access permit program, conduct a 5-
year review of HMS essential fish habitat (EFH) identifications, and 
address exempted fishing and scientific research permitting issues 
consistent with rebuilding plans, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, Atlantic 
Tunas Convention Act (ATCA), and other relevant Federal laws. Amendment 
2 to the Billfish FMP is intended to conduct a 5-year review of 
Atlantic billfish EFH identifications and address other issues as 
appropriate, consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act, ATCA, and other 
relevant Federal laws.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Othel Freeman or Carol Douglas 
(see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 7 days prior to the 
meeting.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 et seq.

    Date: August 21, 2003.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-21951 Filed 8-26-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S