[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 218 (Tuesday, November 13, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63887-63888]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-22145]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD80


Nominations for the 2008 Annual Sustainable Fisheries Leadership 
Awards

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

ACTION: Notice; request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: In 2006, NOAA established the Sustainable Fisheries Leadership 
Awards Program to annually recognize outstanding performances, 
achievements and leadership by industries, organizations and 
individuals who promote best stewardship practices for the sustainable 
use of living marine resources and ecosystems, and who have fostered 
change and inspired a stewardship ethic within their community. This 
notice solicits nominations of qualified individuals for the third 
annual Sustainable Fisheries Leadership Awards in six award categories 
listed in this Notice. NMFS has partnered with the Fish for the Future 
Foundation for this awards program.

DATES: Nomination forms and required supporting materials must be 
received on or before February 11, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent electronically to the Fish for 
the Future Foundation, [email protected]. 
Nominations can also be mailed to Sustainable Fisheries Leadership 
Awards, [incare] Fish for the Future Foundation, 3382 Gunston Road, 
Alexandria, VA 22302, or faxed to (703) 379-5777. All information and 
official nomination forms can be accessed electronically at the Fish 
for the Future Foundation website www.fish4thefuturefoundation.org or 
NMFS website www.nmfs.noaa.gov/awards/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele Shea, Fish for the Future 
Foundation, (703) 379-6101, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Established by NMFS, the Sustainable 
Fisheries Leadership Awards reflect the values and principles of NOAA 
and its mission to ensure sustainable management of U.S. fishery 
resources for the benefit of our Nation. NMFS has partnered with the 
Fish for the Future Foundation, an Internal Revenue Service-approved 
non-profit organization, to assist with the awards program. The Fish 
for the Future Foundation is dedicated to promoting education among the 
American public on the need for and importance of a vibrant, 
sustainable fishing industry.
    The Sustainable Fisheries Leadership Awards Program is open to 
fishing industry sectors, organizations, individuals, and state, local 
and federal government agencies and their employees. Organizations, 
individuals and agencies cannot nominate themselves. A nominee cannot 
be nominated for more than one award category. International entities 
or employees of NMFS are not eligible to receive an award under any 
category. Presenting an award under each of the six categories will be 
entirely dependent on the pool nominations received and NMFS' 
determination of their qualifications. As such, there may be years in 
which an award is not presented under one or more of the categories.
    Nominated through a public process, nominees will be considered for 
the following categories: Special Recognition Award, Stewardship & 
Sustainability Award, Conservation Partnership Award, Science, Research 
& Technology Award, Coastal Habitat Restoration Award, and Public 
Education, Community Service & Media Award.
    Nominations must be submitted on the official nomination form 
available at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/awards/ or 
www.fish4thefuturefoundation.org, and submitted electronically, mailed 
or faxed to Fish for the Future Foundation (see DATES and ADDRESSES). 
Relevant supporting materials, not to exceed 10 pages in length, may be 
submitted along with the nomination form. At least one reference is 
required however no more than three references or endorsements will be 
accepted or considered by the review panel. Nominations will be 
reviewed by the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (a federal advisory 
group established to advise the Secretary of Commerce on living marine 
resource issues) as well as NMFS leadership, making recommendations to 
the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries. Final selection of award 
recipients is made by the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries and the 
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.
    The following award categories are open for nominations:
    Special Recognition Award -- This award honors an individual who 
has demonstrated a life time achievement in innovative management and 
outstanding leadership for the

[[Page 63888]]

stewardship and sustainable use of living marine resources.
    Stewardship & Sustainability Award -- This award recognizes 
excellence in promoting responsible stewardship and innovative 
management for long-term social, economic and biological sustainability 
of living marine resources.
    Conservation Partnership Award -- This award recognizes outstanding 
achievement in cooperative and collaborative work among stakeholder 
groups to foster best practices in sustainable living marine resources 
management.
    Science, Research & Technology Award -- This award recognizes 
excellence in the field of applied fisheries research. Nominations will 
be considered for advancements in technology to improve fisheries 
monitoring, reduce bycatch, protect habitat, conserve protected 
species, and enhance fishing operations as well as other technological 
advances that reduce the impacts of human activity on the marine 
environment.
    Coastal Habitat Restoration Award -- This award recognizes 
significant achievements made in coastal habitat restoration, including 
the development of innovative approaches and community based support 
necessary to accomplish the ambitious goals inherent with these 
projects.
    Public Education, Community Service & Media Award -- This award 
recognizes efforts to inform the general public about marine fisheries 
and living marine resources in the United States, or efforts to support 
the nation's fishing communities through community service.
    Evaluation of nominations will include but are not limited to the 
following criteria:
    Leadership -- the individual or the overall team effort that has 
been demonstrated over a sustained period of time in support of the 
stewardship and sustained use of living marine resources.
    Impact on Stewardship -- the degree of stewardship and conservation 
ethics and practices fostered within the larger community of living 
marine fisheries stakeholders and users.
    Ecological Significance -- the impact and benefit to the overall 
health and abundance provided to living marine resources.
    Long-term Significance -- the impact to the science, management and 
economic sustainability of living marine resources.
    These awards are presented annually. This is the third year of the 
Sustainable Fisheries Leadership Awards. Information on last year's 
awards and award recipients can be found at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/awards.

    Dated: November 6, 2007.
William T. Hogarth,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-22145 Filed 11-9-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S