[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 20, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64049-64050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25174]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XU005]


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 a new task 
force of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC) to support its 
advisory work for the Secretary of Commerce on living marine resource 
matters. The task force will provide expert advice on the generation, 
delivery, and use of electronically reported data from private 
recreational anglers to assist NMFS in fulfilling its mission 
activities. NMFS will appoint the members in consultation with MAFAC 
and they will serve for a term of up to two (2) years. The terms will 
begin in Spring 2020.

DATES: Nominations must be postmarked or have an email date stamp on or 
before January 21, 2020.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heidi Lovett, (301) 427-8046; 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 is establishing a 
Task Force to provide it, and subsequently NMFS, expert advice on the 
generation, delivery, and use of electronically reported data from 
private recreational anglers to assist NOAA Fisheries in fulfilling its 
mission activities. The scope of the Recreational Electronic Reporting 
Task Force will fall within the objectives and scope of the MAFAC.

Recreational Electronic Reporting Task Force

    This Recreational Electronic Reporting Task Force is being created 
to provide MAFAC, and subsequently NMFS, advice on fulfilling the 
agency's central role in providing useable high

[[Page 64050]]

quality, accurate data on recreational fisheries. Task Force advice 
will support and contribute to the development of an Agency roadmap to 
advance and guide implementation, where appropriate, of electronic data 
collection in private recreational fisheries (both shore and boat mode 
angling). The initial actions for consideration by the Task Force 
include:
     Identify and prioritize known data gaps relative to NOAA 
Fisheries' role in supporting management of marine recreational 
fisheries that could be addressed through mandatory or voluntary 
private recreational angler electronic reporting programs.
     Identify realistic and achievable goals for voluntary 
(also known as opt-in) and mandatory electronic reporting for private 
recreational anglers, as well as associated challenges and solutions, 
where identifiable.
     Provide recommendations on how the aforementioned goals 
could be best supported or achieved by NOAA Fisheries.
    The Task Force will report to MAFAC and will not provide advice or 
work products directly to NMFS. Recommendations generated by this Task 
Force's efforts will not result in any regulatory decision, or obligate 
any party to undertake certain activities.
    This Task Force will consist of approximately 10 individuals who 
have demonstrated subject matter expertise and experience in one or 
more relevant fields including, but not limited to, sampling 
statistics, survey methodologies, citizen science, fishery stock 
assessment science, electronic monitoring or reporting, fisheries 
management, database development and/or management, mobile technology 
applications (apps), and marine recreational fishing. It is not 
intended that all Task Force members be scientists or researchers; 
however, other members should have experience with issues related to 
the generation, delivery, and or use of opt-in electronic data, public 
attitudes about participating in such programs, or similar ecological 
self-reporting data systems from which parallels can be drawn. In 
addition to external members, at least one member of MAFAC will serve 
on the Task Force.
    It is intended that the Task Force membership represent a diversity 
of the overall expertise and experience being sought. It will be 
established for an initial period of two (2) years with a possibility 
of extending that term if deemed necessary by NMFS and MAFAC. Task 
Force members should be able to fulfill the time commitments required 
for up to one meeting per month (mostly by webinar or teleconference 
and potentially in-person), and interim work as necessary. Members of 
the Task Force are not compensated for their services, but will upon 
request be provided travel and per diem expenses as authorized by 5 
U.S.C. 5701 et seq. To view the full Recreational Electronic Reporting 
Task Force Terms of Reference, please visit https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/partners/marine-fisheries-advisory-committee-subcommittees-and-task-forces#task-forces.

Nomination Materials

    Each nomination submission must include: resume or curriculum vitae 
of the nominee and a cover letter, not to exceed 3 pages, that 
describes the nominee's interest in serving on the Task Force and how 
the nominee's expertise, experience, and other qualifications relate to 
one or more relevant fields noted in the prior section. Self-
nominations are acceptable. The following contact information should 
accompany each nominee's submission: full name, address, telephone 
number, and email address.
    Nominations should be sent to (see ADDRESSES) and must be received 
by January 21, 2020. Information about MAFAC, its Committee charter, 
current membership, and activities can be viewed on the NMFS' website 
at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/partners#marine-fisheries-advisory-committee.

    Dated: November 14, 2019.
Jennifer Lukens,
Federal Program Officer, Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-25174 Filed 11-19-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3501-22-P