[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 25, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52235-52236]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-19475]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 081204B]


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Advisory Panels

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

ACTION: Notice of Highly Migratory Species and Billfish Advisory Panel 
meetings; request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: NMFS will hold a joint Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel 
(HMS AP) and Billfish Advisory Panel (Billfish AP) meeting in March 
2005. Additionally, NMFS solicits nominations for the HMS AP and the 
Billfish AP. The intent of these Advisory Panel meetings is to consider 
alternatives for amending the fishery management plans for Atlantic 
highly migratory species (HMS).

DATES: The joint HMS-Billfish AP meeting will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 
p.m. on Monday, March 21, 2005; from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 
22, 2005; and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 23, 2005.
    Nominations must be submitted on or before October 12, 2004.

ADDRESSES: The AP meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn, 8777 Georgia 
Avenue (Rt. 97), Silver Spring, MD 20910. Phone: 301-589-0800.
    You may submit Nominations and requests for the AP Statement of 
Organization, Practices, and Procedures by any of the following 
methods:
    [bul] Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line the 
following identifier: I.D. 081204B.
    [bul] Mail: Christopher Rogers, Chief, Highly Migratory Species 
Management Division, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 
20910.
    [bul] 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 Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP) (April 1999), Amendment 1 to the HMS FMP 
(December 2004), and the Amendment 1 to the Billfish FMP (April 1999). 
Nominations are being sought to fill one-third of the posts on the HMS 
AP for 3-year appointment and one-half of the posts on 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. Nominations should include:
    1. The name of the applicant or nominee and a description of their 
interest in 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 Atlantic HMS species. The 
Billfish AP consists of not less than nine members who are 
knowledgeable about the fisheries for 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 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; and/or (e) representation of a private, 
non-

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governmental, regional, (non-Federal) state, national, or international 
organization representing marine fisheries, environmental, governmental 
or academic interests dealing with HMS.
    Five additional members in each AP include one voting member 
representing each of the following Councils: 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 each 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 March 2005 joint HMS-Billfish AP meeting will focus on 
management alternatives for Atlantic tunas, swordfish, sharks, and 
billfish. On July 9, 2003, NMFS published a notice of (68 FR 40907) 
intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Amendment 2 to 
the HMS FMP and Amendment 2 to the Billfish FMP. Amendment 2 to the HMS 
FMP is intended to: (1) address issues regarding quota allocation of 
Atlantic bluefin tuna, swordfish, and sharks among and within domestic 
fishing categories, (2) examine management alternatives to improve and 
streamline the current HMS limited access permit program, (3) conduct a 
5-year review of HMS essential fish habitat (EFH) identifications, and 
(4) 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 19, 2004,
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office Of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-19475 Filed 8-24-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S