[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 78 (Monday, April 26, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22033-22034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-08647]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XB024]


Nominations for the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries 
Commission Permanent Advisory Committee

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

ACTION: Notice of request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, is reopening a 
request for nominations for the advisory committee established under 
the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act 
(Act). The Permanent Advisory Committee, composed of individuals from 
groups concerned with the fisheries covered by the Western and Central 
Pacific Fisheries Convention (Convention), will be given the 
opportunity to provide input to the U.S. Commissioners to the Western 
and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (Commission) regarding the 
deliberations and decisions of the Commission. Nominations previously 
submitted in response to the notice published on January 4, 2021, need 
not be resubmitted.

DATES: Nominations must be received no later than May 10, 2021. 
Nominations received after the deadline will not be accepted.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be directed to Michael Tosatto, Regional 
Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office, and may be 
submitted by any of the following means:
     Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line the 
following document identifier: ``Permanent Advisory Committee 
nominations''. Email comments, including attachments, are limited to 5 
megabytes.
     Mail or hand delivery: 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Bldg 176, 
Honolulu, HI 96818.
     Facsimile: 808-725-5215.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emily Reynolds, NMFS Pacific Islands 
Regional Office; telephone: 808-725-5039; facsimile: 808-725-5215; 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Convention and the Commission

    The objective of the Convention is to ensure, through effective 
management, the long-term conservation and sustainable use of highly 
migratory fish stocks in the western and central Pacific Ocean in 
accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 
10 December 1982 (UNCLOS) and the Agreement for the Implementation of 
the Provisions of the UNCLOS Relating to the Conservation and 
Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks. 
The Convention establishes the Commission, the Secretariat of which is 
based in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia.
    The Convention applies to all highly migratory fish stocks (defined 
as all fish stocks of the species listed in Annex I of the UNCLOS 
occurring in the Convention Area, and such other species of fish as the 
Commission may determine), except sauries.
    The United States actively supported the negotiations and the 
development of the Convention and signed the Convention when it was 
opened for signature in 2000. It participated as a cooperating non-
member of the Commission since it became operational in 2005. The 
United States became a Contracting Party to the Convention and a full 
member of the Commission when it ratified the Convention in January 
2007. Under the Act, the United States is to be represented on the 
Commission by five U.S. Commissioners, appointed by the President.

Permanent Advisory Committee

    The Act (16 U.S.C. 6902) provides (in section 6902(d)) that the 
Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the U.S. Commissioners to 
the Commission, will appoint individuals as members of the advisory 
committee established under the Act, referred to here as the 
``Permanent Advisory Committee''.
    On January 4, 2021, NMFS published a notice in the Federal Register 
(86 FR 73) seeking nominations for the advisory committee established 
under the Act. Nominations had to be received by February 18, 2021. 
Although NMFS has received a number of nominations, NMFS on behalf of 
the Secretary of Commerce is reopening the nomination process in order 
to ensure an equitable balance among representatives of the fisheries 
covered by the Convention, as specified in the Act.
    The appointed members of the Permanent Advisory Committee are to 
include not less than 15 nor more than 20 individuals selected from the 
various groups concerned with the fisheries covered by the Convention, 
providing, to the extent practicable, an equitable balance among such 
groups. In addition to the 15-20 appointed members, the Permanent 
Advisory Committee includes the chair of the Western Pacific Fishery 
Management Council's Advisory Committee (or designee), and officials of 
the fisheries management authorities of American Samoa, Guam, and the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (or their designees).
    Members of the Permanent Advisory Committee will be invited to 
attend all non-executive meetings of the U.S. Commissioners to the 
Commission and at such meetings will be given opportunity to examine 
and be heard on all proposed programs of investigation, reports, 
recommendations, and regulations of the Commission.
    Each appointed member of the Permanent Advisory Committee will 
serve for a term of 2 years and is eligible for reappointment. This 
request for nominations is for the term to begin on August 3, 2021, and 
is for a term of 2 consecutive years.
    The Secretaries of Commerce and State will furnish the Permanent 
Advisory Committee with relevant information concerning fisheries and 
international fishery agreements.
    NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, will provide to the 
Permanent Advisory Committee administrative and technical support 
services as are necessary for its effective functioning.
    Appointed members of the Permanent Advisory Committee will serve 
without pay, but while away from their homes or regular places of 
business in the performance of services for the advisory committee will 
be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, 
in the same manner as persons employed intermittently in the Government 
service are allowed expenses under 5 U.S.C. 5703. They will not be 
considered Federal employees while performing service as members of the 
advisory committee except for the purposes of injury compensation or 
tort claims liability as provided in 5 U.S.C. 18 and 28 U.S.C. 171.

Procedure for Submitting Nominations

    Nominations for the Permanent Advisory Committee should be 
submitted to NMFS (see ADDRESSES). This request for nominations is for 
first-

[[Page 22034]]

time nominees as well as previous and current Permanent Advisory 
Committee members. Self nominations are acceptable. Nominations 
previously submitted in response to the notice published on January 4, 
2021, should not be resubmitted. Nominations should include the 
following information: (1) Full name, address, telephone, and email 
address of nominee; (2) nominee's organization(s) or professional 
affiliation(s) serving as the basis for the nomination, if any; and (3) 
a background statement, not to exceed one page in length, describing 
the nominee's qualifications, experience and interests, specifically as 
related to the fisheries covered by the Convention.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 6902.

    Dated: April 21, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-08647 Filed 4-23-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P