[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 214 (Tuesday, November 7, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76737-76739]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24537]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XD476]


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Advisory Panel

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

ACTION: Notice; solicitation of nominations.

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SUMMARY: NMFS solicits nominations for the Atlantic Highly Migratory 
Species (HMS) Advisory Panel (AP). NMFS consults with and considers the 
comments and views of the HMS AP when preparing and implementing 
Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) or FMP amendments for Atlantic tunas, 
swordfish, sharks, and billfish. Nominations are being sought to fill 
approximately one-third (10) of the seats on the HMS AP for 3-year 
appointments. Individuals with definable interests in the recreational 
and commercial fishing and related industries, environmental community, 
academia, and non-governmental organizations are considered for 
membership on the HMS AP.

DATES: Nominations must be received on or before December 7, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit nominations and requests for the Advisory 
Panel Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures by email to 
[email protected]. Include in the subject line the following 
identifier: ``HMS AP Nominations.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Cooper at (301) 427-8503 or via 
email at [email protected].

[[Page 76738]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Atlantic HMS fisheries (tunas, billfish, 
swordfish, and sharks) are managed under the authority of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act; 
16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (16 
U.S.C. 971 et seq.). The 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP and its 
amendments are implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 635.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires the establishment of an AP for 
each FMP for HMS, i.e., tunas, swordfish, billfish, and sharks (16 
U.S.C. 1854(g)(1)(A)-(B)). Since the inception of the AP in 1998, NMFS 
has consulted with and considered the comments and views of AP members 
when preparing and implementing HMS FMPs or FMP amendments. In this 
notice, NMFS solicits nominations for the HMS AP. Nominations are being 
sought to fill approximately one-third (10) of the seats on the HMS AP 
for 3-year appointments. Individuals with definable interests in the 
recreational and commercial fishing and related industries, 
environmental community, academia, and non-governmental organizations 
are considered for membership on the HMS AP as described below.

Procedures and Guidelines

A. Nomination Procedures for Appointments to the AP

    Nomination packages should include:
    1. The name of the nominee and a description of his/her interest in 
HMS or HMS fisheries, or in particular species of sharks, swordfish, 
tunas, or billfish;
    2. Contact information, including mailing address, phone, and email 
of the nominee;
    3. A statement of background and/or qualifications;
    4. A written commitment that the nominee shall actively participate 
in good faith, and consistent with ethics obligations, in the meetings 
and tasks of the HMS AP; and
    5. A list of outreach resources that the nominee has at his/her 
disposal to communicate qualifications for HMS AP membership.
    Qualification for membership includes one or more of the following: 
(1) experience in HMS recreational fisheries; (2) experience in HMS 
commercial fisheries; (3) experience in fishery-related industries 
(e.g., marinas, bait and tackle shops); (4) experience in the 
scientific community working with HMS; and/or (5) representation of a 
private, non-governmental, regional, national, or international 
organization that represents marine fisheries, or environmental, 
governmental, or academic interests regarding HMS.
Tenure for the HMS AP
    Member tenure will be for 3 years, with approximately one-third of 
the members' terms expiring on December 31 of each year. Nominations 
are sought for terms beginning January 2024 and expiring December 2026.
    Members can serve a maximum of three consecutive terms (a total of 
9 consecutive years). Afterwards, a member must then sit off the HMS AP 
for a single year before becoming eligible to apply for a new term.

B. Participants

    Nominations for the HMS AP will be accepted to allow representation 
from commercial and recreational fishing interests, academic/scientific 
interests, and the environmental/non-governmental organization 
community, for individuals who are knowledgeable about HMS and/or HMS 
fisheries. Current representation on the HMS AP, as shown in Table 1, 
consists of 12 members representing commercial interests, 12 members 
representing recreational interests, 4 members representing 
environmental interests, 4 academic representatives, and the ICCAT 
Advisory Committee Chair. NMFS seeks to fill five commercial, three 
recreational, one environmental, and one academic sector vacancies for 
terms starting in 2024.
    In filling vacancies, NMFS will seek to maintain the current 
representation from each of the sectors. NMFS also considers species 
expertise and representation from the fishing regions (Northeast, Mid-
Atlantic, Southeast, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean) to ensure the 
diversity and balance of the HMS AP. Table 1 includes the current 
representation on the HMS AP by sector, region, and species with terms 
that are expiring identified in the ``Member Status'' column. It is not 
meant to indicate that NMFS will only consider persons who have 
expertise in the species or fishing regions that are listed. Rather, 
NMFS will aim toward having as diverse and balanced an AP as possible. 
The intent is to have a group that, as a whole, reflects an appropriate 
and equitable balance and mix of interests given the responsibilities 
of the HMS AP.

                                      Table 1--Current Representation on the HMS AP by Sector, Region, and Species
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               Sector                    Fishing region              Species             Date appointed       Date term expires        Member status
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Academic...........................  SE/Gulf...............  Sharks................  1/1/2022.............  12/31/2023...........  Expiring.
Academic...........................  NE/Mid-Atlantic.......  Tuna/Shark............  1/1/2022.............  12/31/2024...........  Active.
Academic...........................  SE/Gulf...............  Sharks................  1/1/2022.............  12/31/2024...........  Active.
Academic...........................  Northeast.............  Tunas.................  1/1/2022.............  12/31/2024...........  Active.
Commercial.........................  Gulf of Mexico........  Tuna..................  1/1/2023.............  12/31/2025...........  Active.
Commercial.........................  Southeast.............  Swordfish.............  1/1/2023.............  12/31/2025...........  Active.
Commercial.........................  Mid-Atlantic/SE.......  Tuna..................  1/1/2023.............  12/31/2025...........  Active.
Commercial.........................  Gulf of Mexico........  Sharks................  1/1/2021.............  12/31/2023...........  Expiring.
Commercial.........................  Northeast.............  Tuna..................  1/1/2021.............  12/31/2023...........  Expiring.
Commercial.........................  SE/Gulf...............  Swordfish/Tuna........  1/1/2021.............  12/31/2023...........  Expiring.
Commercial.........................  Gulf of Mexico........  Tuna..................  1/1/2021.............  12/31/2023...........  Expiring.
Commercial.........................  Northeast.............  Tuna..................  1/1/2021.............  12/31/2023...........  Expiring.
Commercial.........................  NE/SE/GOM.............  HMS/Tuna..............  1/1/2022.............  12/31/2024...........  Active.
Commercial.........................  Southeast.............  Sharks................  1/1/2022.............  12/31/2024...........  Active.
Commercial.........................  Gulf of Mexico........  All...................  1/1/2022.............  12/31/2024...........  Active.
Commercial.........................  Northeast.............  Swordfish/Tuna........  1/1/2022.............  12/31/2024...........  Active.
Environmental......................  All...................  Tuna..................  1/1/2023.............  12/31/2025...........  Active.
Environmental......................  All...................  HMS...................  1/1/2023.............  12/31/2025...........  Active.
Environmental......................  All...................  Shark.................  1/1/2021.............  12/31/2023...........  Expiring.
Environmental......................  Caribbean.............  HMS...................  1/1/2022.............  12/31/2024...........  Active.
Recreational.......................  All...................  HMS...................  1/1/2023.............  12/31/2025...........  Active.

[[Page 76739]]

 
Recreational.......................  Northeast.............  Tuna/Sharks...........  1/1/2023.............  12/31/2025...........  Active.
Recreational.......................  All...................  HMS...................  1/1/2023.............  12/31/2025...........  Active.
Recreational.......................  Northeast.............  Tuna..................  1/1/2023.............  12/31/2025...........  Active.
Recreational.......................  Gulf of Mexico........  HMS...................  1/1/2023.............  12/31/2025...........  Active.
Recreational.......................  All...................  Billfish..............  1/1/2021.............  12/31/2023...........  Expiring.
Recreational.......................  Mid-Atlantic..........  Shark.................  1/1/2021.............  12/31/2023...........  Expiring.
Recreational.......................  Southeast/Mid Atlantic  Billfish..............  1/1/2021.............  12/31/2023...........  Expiring.
Recreational.......................  Northeast.............  Tuna/Shark............  1/1/2022.............  12/31/2024...........  Active.
Recreational.......................  NE/SE/GOM.............  All...................  1/1/2022.............  12/31/2024...........  Active.
Recreational.......................  Mid-Atlantic..........  HMS...................  1/1/2022.............  12/31/2024...........  Active.
Recreational.......................  Southeast.............  HMS/Billfish..........  1/1/2022.............  12/31/2024...........  Active.
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Note: Terms that are expiring or associated with current members stepping down are marked as ``Expiring''.

    Five additional members on the HMS AP include one member 
representing each of the following Councils: New England Fishery 
Management Council, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, the 
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery 
Management Council, and the Caribbean Fishery Management Council. The 
HMS AP also includes 22 ex-officio participants: 20 representatives of 
the coastal states and 2 representatives of the interstate commissions 
(the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Gulf States 
Marine Fisheries Commission).
    NMFS will provide the necessary administrative support, including 
technical assistance, for the HMS AP. However, NMFS will not compensate 
participants with monetary support of any kind. Depending on 
availability of funds, members may be reimbursed for travel costs 
related to the HMS AP meetings.

C. Meeting Schedule

    Meetings of the HMS AP will be held as frequently as necessary but 
are routinely held twice each year. In recent years, meetings have been 
held once in the spring, and once in the fall. The meetings may be held 
in conjunction with public hearings.

    Dated: November 1, 2023.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-24537 Filed 11-6-23; 8:45 am]
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