[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 2, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51292-51293]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-20281]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XJ90


Advisory Committee and Species Working Group Technical Advisor 
Appointments

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

ACTION: Nominations.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS is soliciting nominations to the Advisory Committee to 
the U.S. Section to the International Commission for the Conservation 
of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) as established by the Atlantic Tunas 
Convention Act (ATCA). NMFS is also soliciting nominations for 
technical advisors to the Advisory Committee's species working groups.

DATES: Nominations must be received by October 15, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Nominations to the Advisory Committee or for technical 
advisors to a species working group should be sent to Dr. Rebecca Lent, 
Director, Office of International Affairs, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, NOAA, Room 12659, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 
20910. A copy should also be sent to Terra Lederhouse, Office of 
International Affairs, National Marine Fisheries Service, Room 12641, 
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Nominations can also 
be provided via fax (301-713-2313) or email ([email protected] and 
[email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terra Lederhouse, 301-713-9090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 971b of ATCA (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.) 
requires that an advisory committee be established that shall be 
composed of: (1) not less than five nor more than 20 individuals 
appointed by the U.S. Commissioners to ICCAT who shall select such 
individuals from the various groups concerned with the fisheries 
covered by the ICCAT Convention; and (2) the chairs (or their 
designees) of the New England, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, Caribbean, 
and Gulf Fishery Management Councils. Each member of the Advisory 
Committee appointed under paragraph (1) shall serve for a term of two 
years and shall be eligible for reappointment. Members of the Advisory 
Committee may attend all public meetings of the ICCAT Commission, 
Council, or any Panel and any other meetings to which they are invited 
by the ICCAT Commission, Council, or any Panel. The Advisory Committee 
shall be invited to attend all nonexecutive meetings of the U.S. 
Commissioners to ICCAT and, at such meetings, shall be given the 
opportunity to examine and be heard on all proposed programs of 
investigation, reports, recommendations, and regulations of the ICCAT 
Commission. Members of the Advisory Committee shall receive no 
compensation for such services. The Secretary of Commerce and the 
Secretary of State may pay the necessary travel expenses of members of 
the Advisory Committee.
    There are currently 20 appointed Advisory Committee members. These 
members' terms expire on December 31, 2008. New appointments will be 
made as soon as possible, but will not take effect until January 1, 
2009.
    Section 971b-1 of ATCA specifies that the U.S. Commissioners may 
establish species working groups for the purpose of providing advice 
and recommendations to the U.S. Commissioners and to the Advisory 
Committee on matters relating to the conservation and management of any 
highly migratory species covered by the ICCAT Convention. Any species 
working group shall consist of no more than seven members of the 
Advisory Committee and no more than four scientific or technical 
advisors, as considered necessary by the Commissioners. Currently, 
there are four species working groups advising the Committee and the 
U.S. Commissioners: a Bluefin Tuna Working Group, a Swordfish and 
Sharks Working Group, a Billfish Working Group, and a BAYS (Bigeye, 
Albacore, Yellowfin, and Skipjack) Tunas Working Group. Technical 
Advisors to the species working groups serve at the pleasure of the 
U.S. Commissioners; therefore, the Commissioners can choose to alter 
appointments at any time.

[[Page 51293]]

    Nominations to the Advisory Committee or to a species working group 
should include a letter of interest and a resume or curriculum vitae. 
Letters of recommendation are useful but not required. Self-nominations 
are acceptable. When making a nomination, please clearly specify which 
appointment (Advisory Committee member or technical advisor to a 
species working group) is being sought. Requesting consideration for 
placement on both the Advisory Committee and a species working group is 
acceptable. Those interested in a species working group technical 
advisor appointment should indicate which of the four working groups is 
preferred. Placement on the requested species working group, however, 
is not guaranteed.

    Dated: August 27, 2008.
Rebecca Lent,
Director, Office of International Affairs, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-20281 Filed 8-29-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S