[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 20, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3118-3120]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00906]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE389


Nominations for the General Advisory Committee and the Scientific 
Advisory Subcommittee to the United States Delegation to the Inter-
American Tropical Tuna Commission

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

ACTION: Notice; request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, is seeking 
nominations for the General Advisory Committee to the U.S. delegation 
to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC or Commission), 
as well as to a Scientific Advisory Subcommittee of the General 
Advisory Committee. The purpose of the General Advisory Committee and 
its Scientific Advisory Subcommittee is to provide public input and 
advice to the United States delegation to the IATTC in the formulation 
of U.S. policy and positions at meetings of the IATTC and its 
subsidiary bodies. The Scientific Advisory Subcommittee shall also 
function as the National Scientific Advisory Committee provided for in 
the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Program 
(AIDCP).

DATES: Nominations must be received no later than February 19, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be directed to William W. Stelle, Jr., 
Regional Administrator, NMFS West Coast Region, and may be submitted by 
any of the following means:
     Email: [email protected]. Include in 
the subject line the following document identifier: ``General Advisory 
Committee and Scientific Advisory Subcommittee nominations''
     Mail: Rachael Wadsworth, NMFS West Coast Region Long Beach 
Office, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachael Wadsworth, NMFS West Coast 
Region; email: [email protected]; telephone: 562-980-4036.

[[Page 3119]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

General Advisory Committee

    The Tuna Conventions Act (16 U.S.C. 951 et seq.), as amended on 
November 5, 2015, by title II of Public Law 114-81, provides that the 
Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of State, 
shall appoint a ``General Advisory Committee'' to advise the U.S. 
delegation to the IATTC. The General Advisory Committee shall be 
composed of no more than 25 individuals who shall be representative of 
the various groups concerned with the fisheries covered by the IATTC, 
including non-governmental conservation organizations, providing an 
equitable balance among such groups to the maximum extent practicable. 
Members of the General Advisory Committee shall be invited to attend 
all non-executive meetings of the U.S. delegation to the IATTC 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 Commission.
    The Chair of the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific 
Council's) Advisory Subpanel for Highly Migratory Fisheries and the 
Chair of the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Western 
Pacific Council's) Advisory Committee shall be ex-officio members of 
the General Advisory Committee by virtue of their positions advising 
those Councils. The General Advisory Committee will be eligible to 
participate as members of the United States delegation to the 
Commission and its working groups to the extent the Commission rules 
and space for delegations allow. Additionally, NMFS may appoint the 
Executive Directors of the Pacific and Western Pacific Councils to 
serve on the General Advisory Committee.
    At its next meeting, the General Advisory Committee is expected to 
determine its organization and prescribe its practices and procedures 
for carrying out its functions under the Tuna Conventions Act, the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 
1801 et seq.), the 1949 Convention for the Establishment of an Inter-
American Tropical Tuna Commission, and the Convention for the 
Strengthening of the IATTC Established by the 1949 Convention between 
the United States of America and the Republic of Costa Rica (Antigua 
Convention). Meetings of the General Advisory Committee, except when in 
executive session, shall be open to the public, and prior notice of 
meetings shall be made public in timely fashion. In accordance with 
Public Law 114-81, the General Advisory Committee shall not be subject 
to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
    Individuals appointed to serve as a member of the General Advisory 
Committee shall serve without pay. While away from their homes or 
regular places of business to attend meetings of the General Advisory 
Committee, they shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in 
lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons employed 
intermittently by the Federal Government are allowed expenses under 5 
U.S.C. 5703. In addition, individuals appointed to serve as a member of 
the General Advisory Committee shall not be considered Federal 
employees except for the purposes of injury compensation or tort.

Scientific Advisory Subcommittee

    The Tuna Conventions Act, as amended, also provides that the 
Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of State, 
shall appoint individuals as members of the subcommittee of the General 
Advisory Committee, referred to here as the ``Scientific Advisory 
Subcommittee.'' The Scientific Advisory Subcommittee shall be composed 
of no fewer than 5 or no more than 15 qualified scientists with 
balanced representation from the public and private sectors, including 
non-governmental conservation organizations.
    The Scientific Advisory Subcommittee will be expected to determine 
its own organization and prescribe its practices and procedures for 
carrying out its functions under the Tuna Conventions Act, the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 
1801 et seq.), the 1949 Convention for the Establishment of an Inter-
American Tropical Tuna Commission, the Antigua Convention, and the 
AIDCP.

National Scientific Advisory Committee

    The Scientific Advisory Subcommittee shall also function as the 
National Scientific Advisory Committee established pursuant to Article 
IX of the AIDCP. In this regard, the Scientific Advisory Subcommittee 
shall perform the functions of the National Scientific Advisory 
Committee as specified in Annex VI of the AIDCP which include, but are 
not limited to: (1) Receiving and reviewing relevant data, including 
data provided to NMFS by IATTC staff; (2) advising and recommending 
measures and actions to the U.S. Government that should be undertaken 
to conserve and manage stocks of living marine resources in the eastern 
Pacific Ocean; (3) making recommendations to the U.S. Government 
regarding research needs related to the eastern Pacific Ocean tuna 
purse seine fishery; (4) promoting the regular and timely full exchange 
of data among the AIDCP Parties on a variety of matters related to the 
implementation of the AIDCP; and (5) consulting with other experts, as 
necessary, in order to achieve the objectives of the AIDCP.
    Members of the Scientific Advisory Subcommittee/National Scientific 
Advisory Committee shall receive no compensation for their service and 
members will not be compensated for travel or other expenses associated 
with their participation.

General Provisions

    Each appointed member of the General Advisory Committee shall be 
appointed for a term of 3 years and may be reappointed.
    The Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of State shall provide 
the General Advisory Committee with relevant information concerning 
fisheries and international fishery agreements. The Secretary of 
Commerce shall provide to the General Advisory Committee such 
administrative and technical support services that are necessary for 
its effective functioning in a timely manner.

Procedures for Submitting Applications/Nominations

    Applications/nominations for the General Advisory Committee and the 
Scientific Advisory Subcommittee/National Scientific Advisory Committee 
should be submitted to NMFS West Coast Region (See ADDRESSES). This 
request for nominations is for both first time nominees and previous 
members. Self-nominations are acceptable. Nominations should include 
the information listed below:
    (1) Full name, address (home and business, if different), 
telephone, and email address of applicant (i.e., for self-nomination) 
or nominee;
    (2) Specify whether applying or nominating for the General Advisory 
Committee or the Scientific Advisory Committee/National Scientific 
Advisory Committee (applicants may specify both);
    (3) Applicant's or nominee's organization(s) or professional 
affiliation(s) serving as the basis for the application/nomination;
    (4) Background statement describing the applicant's or nominee's 
qualifications and experience, especially as related to fisheries for 
tuna and tuna-like species in the eastern Pacific Ocean or other 
factors relevant to the implementation of the Convention

[[Page 3120]]

Establishing the IATTC or the AIDCP; and
    (5) A written statement from the applicant or nominee of intent to 
participate actively and in good faith in the meetings and activities 
of either the General Advisory Committee or the Scientific Advisory 
Subcommittee/National Scientific Advisory Committee, or both.
    Applicants or nominees who submitted material in response to the 
Federal Register Notice published by the Department of State on March 
25, 2013 (78 FR 17993), or prior, should resubmit their applications 
pursuant to this notice.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 951 et seq.

    Dated: January 13, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-00906 Filed 1-19-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P