[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 7, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37209-37210]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12159]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XD041]


Pacific Whiting; Advisory Panel; Joint Management Committee; Call 
for Nominations

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

ACTION: Notice; call for nominations.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is soliciting nominations for appointments to the United 
States Advisory Panel (AP) and the Joint Management Committee (JMC) 
established in the Agreement between the Government of the United 
States of America and the Government of Canada on Pacific Hake/Whiting 
(Pacific Whiting Treaty). Nominations are being sought to fill six 
positions on the AP beginning on September 16, 2023, and two position 
on the JMC starting September 16, 2023. Terms are 4 years, and 
appointees will be eligible for reappointment at the expiration of the 
terms.

DATES: Nominations must be received by July 7, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit nominations by the following method:
     Email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Lockhart, (206) 526-6142, or 
Colin Sayre (206) 526-4656, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

Pacific Whiting Treaty Committees

    The Pacific Whiting Act of 2006 (Pacific Whiting Act) (16 U.S.C. 
7001-10) implements the Pacific Whiting Treaty. Among other provisions, 
the Pacific Whiting Act provides for the appointment of the United 
States representation on the JMC and AP.
    The JMC reviews the advice of two scientific bodies and the AP, and 
recommends to the Parties the coast-wide total allowable catch of 
Pacific whiting each year. Four individuals represent the United States 
on the JMC; one official from NOAA, one member of the Pacific Fishery 
Management Council, one representative of the treaty Indian tribes with 
treaty fishing rights to Pacific whiting, and one representative from 
the commercial fishing sector of the whiting fishing industry concerned 
with the offshore whiting resource. NMFS is soliciting nominations for 
one representative of the commercial sector (16 U.S.C. 7002 (a)(1)) 
through this notice.
    The AP advises the JMC on bilateral Pacific whiting management 
issues. Eight individuals represent the United States on the AP, and 
nominations for six of those individuals (16 U.S.C. 7005) are solicited 
through this notice. Members appointed to the U.S. sections of the AP 
and JMC will be reimbursed for necessary travel expenses in accordance 
with Federal Travel Regulations and sections 5701, 5702, 5704 through 
5708, and 5731 of title 5 (16 U.S.C. 7008). NMFS anticipates that two 
meetings of the JMC and one meeting of the AP will be held annually, 
and these meetings will be held in the United States or Canada. AP and 
JMC members will need a valid U.S. passport.
    The Pacific Whiting Act also states that while performing their 
appointed

[[Page 37210]]

duties, members ``other than officers or employees of the United States 
Government, shall not be considered to be Federal employees while 
performing such service, except for purposes of injury compensation or 
tort claims liability as provided in chapter 81 of title 5 and chapter 
171 of title 28.'' (16 U.S.C. 7008).
    Information on the Pacific Whiting Treaty, including current 
committee members, can be found at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/laws-and-policies/pacific-hake-whiting-treaty#committees-and-panels.

Nominations

    Nomination packages for appointments should include:
    (1) The name of the applicant or nominee, position they are being 
nominated for and a description of their interest in Pacific whiting; 
and
    (2) A statement of background and/or description of how the 
following qualifications are met.

Advisory Panel Qualifications

    AP member nominees must be knowledgeable or experienced in the 
harvesting, processing, marketing, management, conservation, or 
research of the offshore Pacific whiting resource; and must not be 
employees of the United States government.

Joint Management Committee Qualifications

    The JMC nominee for the commercial sector must be from the 
commercial sector of the Pacific whiting fishing industry concerned 
with the offshore Pacific whiting resource, and must be knowledgeable 
or experienced concerning the offshore whiting resource.
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 7001 et seq.

    Dated: June 2, 2023.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-12159 Filed 6-6-23; 8:45 am]
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