[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 115 (Wednesday, June 15, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 36111]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-12852]



[[Page 36111]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XC104]


15th Scientific Advisory Subcommittee to the General Advisory 
Committee and 30th General Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to 
the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission; Meeting Announcement

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces a public meeting of the 15th Scientific 
Advisory Subcommittee (SAS) to the General Advisory Committee (GAC), 
and the 30th GAC to the U.S. Section to the Inter-American Tropical 
Tuna Commission (IATTC). This meeting will be held as a combined SAS 
and GAC meeting on Wednesday and Thursday, June 29-30, 2022, via 
webinar. The meeting topics are described under the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this notice.

DATES: The virtual meeting of the SAS and GAC will be held on Wednesday 
and Thursday, June 29-30, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. PDT (or until 
business is concluded).

ADDRESSES: Please notify William Stahnke (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT) if you plan to attend the webinar. Instructions will be 
emailed to meeting participants before the meeting occurs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Stahnke, West Coast Region, 
NMFS, at [email protected], or at (562) 980-4088.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The timing of U.S. SAS and GAC meetings are 
adjusted based on the dates of the IATTC Annual Meeting. This year, the 
IATTC convened its 13th Meeting of the Scientific Advisory Committee 
(SAC) on May 16-20, 2022, and the 100th Annual Meeting of the IATTC 
will be held on August 1-5, 2022. For 2022, the combined U.S. SAS and 
GAC Meeting will be held after the IATTC SAC Meeting and before the 
IATTC Annual Meeting on June 29 and 30. This timing allows for 
scientific topics presented at the IATTC SAC Meeting, including stock 
assessments, to be discussed and used to inform U.S. positions at the 
combined U.S. SAS and GAC Meeting. This meeting will also include 
updates from IATTC working groups and presentation of draft U.S. 
proposals to be submitted to the IATTC. An executive session may be 
called in order to discuss sensitive information, including possible 
U.S. negotiating positions for the upcoming IATTC Annual Meeting.
    In accordance with the Tuna Conventions Act (16 U.S.C. 951 et 
seq.), the U.S. Department of Commerce, in consultation with the 
Department of State (the State Department), appoints a GAC to the U.S. 
Section to the IATTC, and a SAS that advises the GAC. The U.S. Section 
consists of the four U.S. Commissioners and alternate U.S. 
Commissioners to the IATTC and representatives of the State Department, 
NOAA, Department of Commerce, other U.S. Government agencies, and 
stakeholders. The GAC provides recommendations to the U.S. section of 
the IATTC. The purpose of the SAS is to advise the GAC on scientific 
matters and provide recommendations to the GAC. Per TCA, the SAS 
advises the GAC and the U.S. Commissioners on matters including the 
conservation of ecosystems, the sustainable uses of living marine 
resources related to the tuna fishery in the eastern Pacific Ocean, and 
the long-term conservation and management of stocks of living marine 
resources in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. NMFS West Coast Region 
staff provides administrative and technical support services as 
necessary for the effective functioning of the SAS and GAC.
    The meetings of the SAS and GAC are open to the public, unless in 
executive session. The time and manner of public comment will be at the 
discretion of the Chairs for the SAS and GAC. For more information and 
updates on these upcoming meetings, please visit the IATTC's website: 
https://www.iattc.org/MeetingsENG.htm.

SAS and GAC Meeting Topics

    Given the virtual nature of these meetings, the agenda will be 
concise. The SAS and GAC meeting to prepare for the 100th IATTC Annual 
Meeting is expected to cover a broad spectrum of topics including but 
not limited to:
    (1) Outcomes of the most recent IATTC stock assessments and updates 
for tuna, tuna-like species, and other species caught in association 
with those fisheries in the eastern Pacific Ocean;
    (2) Evaluation of the IATTC Staff's Recommendations to the 
Commission for 2022;
    (3) Potential U.S. proposal(s) to the IATTC, including on North 
Pacific albacore;
    (4) Updates for upcoming Joint IATTC-WCPFC NC Working Group on PBF 
meeting;
    (5) Recommendations and evaluations by the SAS and GAC; and
    (6) Other issues as they arise.

Special Accommodations

    Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to William Stahnke (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT).
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 951 et seq.

    Dated: June 9, 2022.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-12852 Filed 6-14-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P