[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 132 (Wednesday, July 11, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37730-37731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-13476]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA90


Nominations for the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries 
Commission Advisory Committee

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

ACTION: Request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, is seeking 
nominations for the advisory committee established under the Western 
and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act (Act). The 
advisory committee, to be composed of individuals from groups concerned 
with the fisheries covered by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries 
Convention (Convention), will be given the opportunity to provide input 
to the United States Commissioners to the Western and Central Pacific 
Fisheries Commission (Commission) regarding the deliberations and 
decisions of the Commission.

DATES: Nominations must be received no later than September 10, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be directed to William L. Robinson, 
Regional Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office, and may 
be submitted by any of the following means:
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include in the subject line 
the following document identifier: ``Advisory committee nominations''. 
E-mail messages, with or without attachments, are limited to 5 
megabytes.
     Mail or hand delivery: 1601 Kapiolani Blvd. Suite 1110, 
Honolulu, HI 96814.
     Facsimile: 808-973-2941.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Raymond P. Clarke, NMFS Pacific 
Islands Regional Office; telephone: 808-944-2205; facsimile: 808-973-
2941; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Convention and the Commission

    The objective of the Convention is to ensure, through effective 
management, the long-term conservation and sustainable use of highly 
migratory fish stocks in the western and central Pacific Ocean in 
accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 
1982 (UNCLOS) and the Agreement for the Implementation of the 
Provisions of the UNCLOS Relating to the Conservation and Management of 
Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks. The Convention 
establishes the Commission, the secretariat of which is based in 
Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia.
    The Convention applies to all highly migratory fish stocks (defined 
as all fish stocks of the species listed in Annex I of the UNCLOS 
occurring in the Convention Area, and such other species of fish as the 
Commission may determine), except sauries.
    The United States played a very active role in supporting the 
negotiations and the development of the Convention and signed the 
Convention when it was opened for signature in 2000. It has 
participated as a cooperating non-member in the Commission since it 
became operational in 2005. Upon completion of the Convention 
ratification process, which will occur July 27, 2007, the United States 
will become a Contracting Party to the Convention and a full member of 
the Commission. Under the Act, the United States will be represented on 
the Commission by five United States Commissioners, appointed by the 
President.

Advisory Committee

    The Act (Public Law 109-479, sec 501-511) provides (in sec 503(d)) 
that the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the United States 
Commissioners to the Commission, will appoint certain members of the 
advisory committee established under the Act.
    The members to be appointed to the advisory committee are to 
include not less than 15 nor more than 20 individuals selected from the 
various groups concerned with the fisheries covered by the Convention, 
providing, to the extent practicable, an equitable balance among such 
groups. On behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, NMFS is now seeking 
nominations for these appointments.
    In addition to the 15-20 appointed members, the advisory committee 
also includes the chair of the Western and Central Pacific Fishery 
Management Council's Advisory Committee (or designee), and officials of 
the fisheries management authorities of American Samoa, Guam, and the 
Northern Mariana Islands (or their designees).
    Members of the advisory committee will be invited to attend all 
non-executive meetings of the United States Commissioners to the 
Commission and at such meetings will be given opportunity to examine 
and be heard on all proposed programs of investigation,

[[Page 37731]]

reports, recommendations, and regulations of the Commission.
    Each appointed member of the advisory committee will serve for a 
term of two years and will be eligible for reappointment.
    The Secretaries of Commerce and State will furnish the advisory 
committee with relevant information concerning fisheries and 
international fishery agreements.
    NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, will provide to the 
advisory committee administrative and technical support services as are 
necessary for its effective functioning.
    Appointed members of the advisory committee will serve without pay, 
but while away from their homes or regular places of business in the 
performance of services for the advisory committee will be allowed 
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same 
manner as persons employed intermittently in the Government service are 
allowed expenses under section 5703 of title 5, United States Code. 
They will be considered Federal employees while performing service as 
members of the advisory committee only for purposes of: (1) injury 
compensation under chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code; (2) 
requirements concerning ethics, conflicts-of-interest, and corruption, 
as provided by title 18, United States Code, and (3) any other criminal 
or civil statute or regulation governing the conduct of Federal 
employees in their capacity as Federal employees.

Procedure for Submitting Nominations

    Nominations for the advisory committee should be submitted to NMFS 
(see ADDRESSES). Self nominations are acceptable. Nominations should 
include the following information: (1) Full name, address, telephone, 
facsimile, and e-mail of nominee; (2) nominee's organization(s) or 
professional affiliation(s) serving as the basis for the nomination, if 
any; and (3) a background statement, not to exceed one page in length, 
describing the nominee's qualifications, experience and interests, 
specifically as related to the fisheries covered by the Convention.

    Dated: July 6, 2007.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-13476 Filed 7-10-07; 8:45 am]
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