[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 205 (Monday, October 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65700-65701]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27474]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA776


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Advisory Panel for Atlantic 
Highly Migratory Species Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review 
Workshops

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 Advisory Panel (AP) for 
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Southeast Data, Assessment, and 
Review (SEDAR) Workshops (this AP is also called the ``SEDAR Pool''). 
The SEDAR Pool is comprised of a group of individuals whom may be 
selected to consider data and advise NMFS regarding the scientific 
information, including but not limited to data and models, used in 
stock assessments for oceanic sharks in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of 
Mexico, and Caribbean Sea. Nominations are being sought for a 3-year 
appointment (2012-2015). Individuals with definable interests in the 
recreational and commercial fishing and related industries, 
environmental community, academia, and non-governmental organizations 
will be considered for membership on the SEDAR Pool.

DATES: Nominations must be received on or before November 23, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit nominations and request the SEDAR Pool 
Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures by any of the 
following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Mail: Karyl Brewster-Geisz, Highly Migratory Species 
Management Division, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 
20910. Include on the envelope the following identifier: ``SEDAR Pool 
Nomination.''
     Fax: 301-713-1917.
    Additional information on SEDAR and the SEDAR guidelines can be 
found at http://www.sefsc.noaa.gov/sedar/. The terms of reference for 
the SEDAR Pool, along with a list of current members, can be found at 
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/SEDAR/SEDAR.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Delisse Ortiz or Karyl Brewster-Geisz, 
(301) 425-8503.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    Section 302(g)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., states 
that each Council shall establish such advisory panels as are necessary 
or appropriate to assist it in carrying out its functions under the 
Act. For the purposes of this section in the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS 
considers the Council provision to be applicable to the HMS Management 
Division. As such, NMFS has established the SEDAR Pool under this 
section. The SEDAR Pool currently consists of 30 individuals who can be 
selected to review data and advise NMFS regarding the scientific 
information, including but not limited to data and models, used in 
stock assessments for oceanic sharks in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of 
Mexico, and Caribbean Sea. While the SEDAR Pool was created 
specifically for Atlantic oceanic sharks, it may be expanded to include 
other HMS, as needed.
    The primary purpose of the individuals in the SEDAR Pool is to 
review, at SEDAR workshops, the scientific information, including but 
not limited to data and models, used in stock assessments that are used 
to advise NMFS, as a delegate to the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), 
about the conservation and management of the Atlantic HMS, specifically 
but not limited to, Atlantic sharks. Individuals in the SEDAR Pool, if 
selected, may participate in the various data, assessment, and review 
workshops during the SEDAR process of any HMS stock assessment. In 
order to ensure that the peer review is unbiased, individuals who 
participated in a data and/or assessment workshop for a particular 
stock assessment will not be allowed to serve as reviewers for the same 
stock assessment. However, these individuals may be asked to attend the 
review workshop to answer specific questions from the reviewers 
concerning the data and/or assessment workshops. Members of the SEDAR 
Pool may serve as members of other APs concurrent with, or following, 
their service on the SEDAR Pool.

Procedures and Guidelines

A. Participants

    The SEDAR Pool is comprised of individuals representing the 
commercial and recreational fishing communities for Atlantic HMS, the 
environmental community active in the conservation and management of 
Atlantic HMS, and the academic community that have relevant expertise 
either with sharks or shark-like species and/or stock assessment 
methodologies for marine fish species. Members of the SEDAR Pool must 
have demonstrated experience in the fisheries, related industries, 
research, teaching, writing, conservation, or management of marine 
organisms. The distribution of representation among the interested 
parties is not defined or limited.
    Additional members of the SEDAR Pool may also include 
representatives from each of the five Atlantic Regional Fishery 
Management Councils, each of the 18 constituent states, both the U.S. 
Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, and each of the constituent interstate 
commissions: the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the 
Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission.
    If NMFS requires additional members to ensure a diverse pool of 
individuals to draw from for data or assessment workshops, NMFS may 
request

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individuals to become members of the SEDAR Pool outside of the annual 
nomination period.
    Panel members serve at the discretion of the Secretary. Not all 
members will attend each SEDAR workshop. Rather, NMFS will invite 
certain members to participate at specific stock assessment workshops 
dependent on their ability to participate, discuss, and recommend 
scientific decisions regarding the species being assessed. If an 
invited SEDAR Pool member is unable to attend the workshop, the member 
may send a designee who may represent them and participate in the 
activities of the workshop. In order to ensure the designee meets the 
requirements of participating in the data and/or assessment workshop, 
the designee must receive written approval of the Director of the 
Office of Sustainable Fisheries at least six weeks in advance of the 
beginning of the relevant data and/or assessment workshop. Written 
notification must include the name, address, telephone, e-mail, and 
position of the individual designated. A designee may not name another 
designee.
    NMFS is not obligated to fulfill any requests (e.g., requests for 
an assessment of a certain species) that may be made by the SEDAR Pool 
or its individual members. Members of the SEDAR Pool who are invited to 
attend stock assessment workshops will not be compensated for their 
services but may be reimbursed for their travel-related expenses to 
attend such workshops.

B. Nomination Procedures for Appointments to the SEDAR Pool

    Member tenure will be for 3 years. Nominations are sought for terms 
beginning February 2012 and expiring January 2015. Nomination packages 
should include:
    1. The name, address, phone number, and e-mail of the applicant or 
nominee;
    2. A description of his/her interest in Atlantic shark stock 
assessments or the Atlantic shark fishery;
    3. A statement of background and/or qualifications; and
    4. A written commitment that the applicant or nominee shall 
participate actively and in good faith in the tasks of the SEDAR Pool, 
as requested.

C. Meeting Schedule

    Individual members of the SEDAR Pool meet to participate in stock 
assessments at the discretion of the Office of Sustainable Fisheries, 
NMFS. Stock assessment timing, frequency, and relevant species will 
vary depending on the needs determined by NMFS and SEDAR staff. 
Meetings and meeting logistics will be determined according to the 
SEDAR Guidelines. All meetings are open for observation by the public.

     Dated: October 19, 2011.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-27474 Filed 10-21-11; 8:45 am]
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