[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 207 (Thursday, October 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62586-62587]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-17948]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 101206E]


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Advisory Panel

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: NMFS solicits nominations for the Highly Migratory Species 
(HMS) Advisory Panel. Nominations are being sought to fill one-third of 
the Advisory Panel posts for a 3-year appointment.

DATES: Nominations must be received on or before November 27, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may submit nominations and requests for the Advisory 
Panel Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures by any of 
the following methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line 
the following identifier: ``I.D. 101206E.''
     Mail: Margo Schulze-Haugen, Chief, Highly Migratory 
Species Management Division, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910.
     Fax: 301-713-1917.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Rilling or Carol Douglas at 
(301) 713-2347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    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, provided for the 
establishment of Advisory Panel (AP) to assist in the collection and 
evaluation of information relevant to the development of any Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP) or FMP amendment. NMFS consults with and 
considers the comments and views of the AP when preparing and 
implementing FMPs or FMP amendments for Atlantic tunas, swordfish, 
sharks, and billfish. For instance, the AP has consulted with NMFS on 
the HMS FMP (April 1999), Amendment 1 to the Billfish FMP (April 1999), 
Amendment 1 to the HMS FMP (December 2004), and the Consolidated HMS 
FMP (March 2006).
    Nominations are being sought to fill one-third of the posts on the 
HMS AP for a 3-year appointment.

Procedures and Guidelines

A. Nomination Procedures for Appointments to 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. Nomination packages should include:
    1. The name of the applicant or nominee and a description of his/
her interest in HMS or in one species from sharks, swordfish, tunas, 
and billfish;
    2. A statement of background and/or qualifications;
    3. A written commitment that the applicant or nominee shall 
actively participate in good faith in the tasks of the AP; and
    4. A list of outreach resources that the applicant has at his/her 
disposal to communicate HMS issues to various interest groups.
Tenure for the HMS AP
    Member tenure will be for 3 years (36 months), with one-third of 
the members' terms expiring on December 31 of each year.

B. Participants

    Nominations for the AP will be accepted to allow representation 
from recreational and commercial fishing interests, the conservation 
community, and the scientific community. The HMS AP consists of members 
who are knowledgeable about the fisheries for Atlantic HMS species.
    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 the AP. Criteria for 
membership include one or more of the following: (1) Experience in the 
recreational fishing industry involved in fishing for HMS; (2) 
experience in the commercial fishing industry for HMS; (3) experience 
in fishery-related industries (marinas, bait and tackle shops); (4) 
experience in the scientific community working with HMS; and/or (5) 
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 on the AP include one 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 coastal states and two 
representatives of the 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.

[[Page 62587]]

C. Meeting Schedule

    Meetings of the AP will be held as frequently as necessary but are 
routinely held once each year in the spring. The meetings may be held 
in conjunction with public hearings.

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

    Dated: October 20, 2006.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-17948 Filed 10-25-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S