[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 238 (Thursday, December 11, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73555-73557]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29045]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD532


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; nominations for Advisory Panel, updated Terms of 
Reference for SEDAR Pool.

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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''). 
We also notify the public of updates to the Terms of Reference for the 
SEDAR Pool, including changes to the length of time selectees may 
serve. 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 5-year 
appointment (2015-2020). 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 January 12, 2015.

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ADDRESSES: You may submit nominations and request the SEDAR Pool 
Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures by any of the 
following methods:
     Email: [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, NMFS applies the above Council 
provision to the HMS Management Division (See Section 303(g)(1) of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act, which provides that the Secretary will prepare 
fishery management plans for HMS and consult with Advisory Panels under 
section 302(g) for such FMPs). As such, NMFS has established the SEDAR 
Pool under this section. The SEDAR Pool currently consists of 33 
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. Terms of Reference

    NMFS is updating the Terms of Reference for the SEDAR Pool, which 
were first established in 2010 with the formation of this advisory 
panel. The updated Terms of Reference allow invited SEDAR Pool members 
to send a designee to represent them and participate in the activities 
of the workshop, after following specified procedures, including 
written notice to the Chief of the HMS Management Division. The updated 
Terms of Reference also extend member tenure from 3 to 5 years, to 
allow continued participation by interested parties. The Terms of 
Reference are available at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/advisory_panels/sedar_ap/sedar_hms_ap_terms_of_reference.pdf.

B. Participants

    The SEDAR Pool is comprised of individuals representing the 
commercial and recreational fishing communities for Atlantic sharks, 
the environmental community active in the conservation and management 
of Atlantic sharks, 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 states, both the U.S. Virgin 
Islands and Puerto Rico, and each of the 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 for data or assessment workshops, NMFS may request 
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 HMS Management 
Division Chief at least two weeks in advance of the beginning of the 
relevant data and/or assessment workshop. Written notification must 
include the name, address, telephone, email, 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.

C. Nomination Procedures for Appointments to the SEDAR Pool

    Member tenure will be for 5 years. Nominations are sought for terms 
beginning early in 2015 and expiring in 2020. Nomination packages 
should include:
    1. The name, address, phone number, and email 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.

D. Meeting Schedule

    Individual members of the SEDAR Pool meet to participate in stock 
assessments at the discretion of the

[[Page 73557]]

Office of Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS. Stock assessment timing, 
frequency, and relevant species will vary depending on the needs 
determined by NMFS and SEDAR staff. Currently, other than meetings 
needed to complete the ongoing smoothhound shark stock assessment, NMFS 
does not anticipate holding any stock assessment meetings for other 
Atlantic shark species in 2015. In 2016, NMFS anticipates starting a 
stock assessment on Atlantic blacktip sharks. During an assessment 
year, meetings and meeting logistics will be determined according to 
the SEDAR Guidelines. All meetings are open for observation by the 
public.

    Dated: December 8, 2014.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-29045 Filed 12-10-14; 8:45 am]
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