[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 230 (Friday, December 1, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56965-56966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25872]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF766


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 shark stock assessment Advisory Panel.

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SUMMARY: NMFS solicits nominations for the ``SEDAR Pool,'' also known 
as the Advisory Panel for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) 
Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) Workshops. The SEDAR 
Pool is comprised of a group of individuals who 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 (2018-2023). 
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 2, 2018.

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, (240-681-9037) or Karyl 
Brewster-Geisz, (301) 425-8503.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

[[Page 56966]]

Background

    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 Atlantic highly migratory species management (see Section 
304(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 26 individuals, each of whom may 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 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 Advisory Panels 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 sharks, 
the environmental community active in the conservation and management 
of Atlantic sharks, and the academic community that have relevant 
expertise either with sharks and/or stock assessment methodologies for 
marine fish species. Also, individuals who may not necessarily work 
directly with sharks, but who are involved in fisheries with similar 
life history, biology and fishery issues may be part of the SEDAR Pool. 
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 Atlantic 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.
    SEDAR Pool 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.
    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 5 years. Nominations are sought for terms 
beginning early in 2018 and expiring in 2023. Nomination packages 
should include:
    1. The name, address, phone number, and email of the applicant or 
nominee;
    2. A description of the applicant's or nominee's interest in 
Atlantic shark stock assessments or the Atlantic shark fishery;
    3. A statement of the applicant's or nominee's 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. In 
2018, NMFS intends to update the Gulf of Mexico blacktip shark stock 
assessment. In 2019, NMFS intends to conduct a benchmark assessment for 
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: November 27, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-25872 Filed 11-30-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P