[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 200 (Thursday, October 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62117-62118]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-24627]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD543


Appointments to the Climate and Aquaculture Task Forces by the 
Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee

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

ACTION: Notice; Request for Nominations.

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SUMMARY: Nominations are being sought for appointment to two new task 
forces of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC) to support 
its advisory work for the Secretary of Commerce on living marine 
resource matters. One task force will focus on climate and marine 
resources issues and the other on aquaculture issues. The members will 
be appointed by NMFS in consultation with MAFAC and will serve for an 
initial term of one or two years. The terms would begin in November or 
December 2014. Nominees should possess demonstrable knowledge or 
expertise in the areas described under Supplemental Information for 
each task force.

DATES: Nominations must be postmarked or have an email date stamp on or 
before November 17, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent to Heidi Lovett, Office of 
Policy, NMFS F-14438, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 
or to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heidi Lovett, (301) 427-8004; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: MAFAC is the only Federal advisory committee 
with the responsibility to advise the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) 
on all matters concerning living marine resources that are the 
responsibility of the Department of Commerce. MAFAC

[[Page 62118]]

is establishing a Climate and Marine Resources Task Force and an 
Aquaculture Task Force to assist it in the development of 
recommendations to the Secretary on policies, programs, and regulations 
critical to the mission and goals of the NMFS.

Climate and Marine Resources Task Force

    This Climate and Marine Resources Task Force is being created as a 
communication conduit for stakeholder input to MAFAC and NOAA 
Leadership on the production, delivery, and use of climate-related 
information in fulfilling NOAA Fisheries mission activities. NOAA's 
marine stewardship mandates include consideration of changing 
environmental conditions and other factors on marine resources and the 
industries that depend on these resources. The Task Force will provide 
review and input on the NOAA Fisheries Climate Science Strategy 
(pending later this year), regional implementation plans, 
identification of community impacts related to climate change and 
fisheries, and other topics as needed.
    This Task Force will consist of 12 to 15 individuals. MAFAC is 
seeking individuals that have experience with the production, delivery 
and/or use of climate-related information in marine resource management 
or have familiarity with how science, data, and information influences 
policy and regulatory decision making. It is not intended that all 
nominees be scientists or researchers. Individuals should represent the 
diverse constituent groups or partners from across U.S. regions and 
territories that interact with NOAA Fisheries: Commercial, 
recreational, or subsistence fisheries; aquaculture; seafood 
industries; academia; tribes; environmental, protected resources, 
marine habitat, and consumer groups; and/or other related national 
interests.
    It is intended that the Task Force be established for an initial 
period of 3 years with a possibility of extending that term if deemed 
necessary by NOAA Fisheries and MAFAC. Task Force members will be 
appointed for 2-year terms and should be able to fulfill the time 
commitments required for periodic meetings (mostly by webinar or 
teleconference, and potentially in-person).

Aquaculture Task Force

    MAFAC has a longstanding history of engagement on aquaculture 
issues. The Aquaculture Task Force is being created to expand the 
aquaculture expertise of MAFAC and to help MAFAC provide advice and 
input to NOAA Leadership on the NOAA Aquaculture Program and its future 
activities. The Task Force will assist NOAA in fulfilling its central 
role in developing and implementing policies that enable marine 
aquaculture and work to ensure that aquaculture complies with existing 
Federal laws and regulations that NOAA enforces under its marine 
stewardship mission.
    Some example tasks of the new Task Force will include review of: 
NOAA's progress on implementing the agency's 10-Year Plan for Marine 
Aquaculture (from 2007), priorities to include in strategic planning 
for the aquaculture program, and tasks to support NOAA's work with the 
Regulatory Task Force of the Interagency Working Group on Aquaculture.
    This Task Force will consist of no more than 10 individuals who 
have expertise in all aspects of marine aquaculture; the science, 
research, and development to advance aquaculture; and the management 
and permitting of aquaculture at the Federal, state, and local levels. 
It is intended that Task Force members will come from across all U.S. 
regions and territories.
    This Task Force will be established for an initial period of 1 year 
with a possibility of extending that term if deemed necessary by NOAA 
Fisheries and MAFAC. Task Force members will be appointed for 1-year 
terms and should be able to fulfill the time commitments required for 
periodic meetings (mostly by webinar or teleconference, and potentially 
in-person).

Nomination Materials

    Each nomination submission should identify which Task Force the 
nominee is applying to and include: a cover letter describing the 
nominee's qualifications and interest in serving on the specific task 
force, resume or curriculum vitae of the nominee, and up to two 
recommendation letters describing the nominee's qualifications and 
interest. Self-nominations are acceptable. The following contact 
information should accompany each nominee's submission: full name, 
address, telephone number, fax number, and email address.
    Nominations should be sent to (see ADDRESSES) and must be received 
by November 17, 2014. Information about MAFAC, its Committee Charter, 
current membership, and activities can be viewed at the NMFS' Web page 
at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/mafac.htm.

    Dated: October 9, 2014.
Eileen Sobeck,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-24627 Filed 10-15-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P