[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 147 (Wednesday, August 2, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35933-35934]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16245]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF532


Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Consultative Committee 
Nominations and Meeting Announcement

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

ACTION: Notice calling for nominations and announcing meeting.

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SUMMARY: NOAA is soliciting nominations for individuals to serve as 
members of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) 
Consultative Committee. This action is

[[Page 35934]]

necessary to ensure that the interests of U.S. stakeholders in the 
fisheries of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean are adequately represented in 
NAFO. NOAA is also announcing a meeting of the NAFO Consultative 
Committee.

DATES: The NAFO Consultative Committee Meeting will be held on August 
30, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Nominations for NAFO Consultative Committee members should 
be made in writing to Mr. Patrick E. Moran, Office of International 
Affairs, National Marine Fisheries Service, at 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910. Nominations and questions about the NAFO 
Consultative Committee meeting may also be sent via email 
([email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Patrick E. Moran, (301) 427-8370.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    NAFO is a regional fisheries management organization that 
coordinates scientific study and cooperative management of the 
fisheries resources of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, excluding salmon, 
tunas/marlins, whales and sedentary species (e.g., shellfish). NAFO was 
established in 1979 by the Convention on Future Multilateral 
Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries. The United States 
acceded to the Convention in 1995, and has participated actively in 
NAFO since that time. In 2005, NAFO launched a reform effort to amend 
the Convention in order bring the Organization more in line with the 
principles of modern fisheries management. As a result of these 
efforts, the Amendment to the Convention on Future Multilateral 
Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries entered into force in 
May 2017. NAFO currently has 12 Contracting Parties, including Canada, 
Cuba, Denmark (in respect of Faroe Islands and Greenland), European 
Union, France (in respect of St. Pierre and Miquelon), Iceland, Japan, 
Norway, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United 
States.
    As outlined in 16 U.S.C. 5607 provides that the Secretaries of 
Commerce and State shall jointly establish a NAFO Consultative 
Committee (NCC) to advise the Secretaries on issues related to the NAFO 
Convention. Membership in the NCC is open to representatives from the 
New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils, the States 
represented on those Councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries 
Commission, the fishing industry, the seafood processing industry, and 
others knowledgeable and experienced in the conservation and management 
of fisheries in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. Members shall be 
appointed to a 2-year term and are eligible for reappointment. The NCC 
is exempted from the Federal Advisory Committee Act. NCC members are 
invited to attend all non-executive meetings of the U.S. Commissioners 
and at such meetings are given an opportunity to examine and to be 
heard on all proposed programs of study and investigation, reports, 
recommendations, and regulations of issues relating to the Act and 
proceedings of NAFO. In addition, NCC members may attend all public 
meetings of the NAFO Commission and any other meetings to which they 
are invited.

Nominations

    Nominations to the NCC will be accepted at any time and should 
document an individual's qualifications based on those outlined in 16 
U.S.C. 5607 (see above). R[eacute]sum[eacute]s and/or curriculum vitae 
will be requested from nominees. Self-nominations are acceptable, and 
current and former NCC members are eligible for reappointment. 
Nominations will be evaluated by officials in the Department of 
Commerce who are familiar with the duties and responsibilities of NCC 
membership. All nominees will be notified of their status and any need 
for further information once the nomination process is complete.

Meeting

    A meeting of the NCC will be held 1:30-3 p.m. on August 30, 2017, 
at the NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office at 55 Great 
Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. All members of the public with an 
interest in the fisheries of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean are welcome 
to attend.

    Dated: July 27, 2017.
Steven Wilson,
Acting Director, Office of International Affairs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-16245 Filed 8-1-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P