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Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Advisory Panels
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: August 27, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 166)]
[Notices]
[Page 51560-51561]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27au03-45]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 082003C]
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Advisory Panels
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; Highly Migratory Species and Billfish Advisory Panel
Meetings; Request for nominations.
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SUMMARY: NMFS will hold a Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel (HMS
AP) meeting September 30, 2003, for Atlantic Shark management in Silver
Spring, MD. Also, a joint meeting of the Atlantic HMS AP and the
Atlantic Billfish Advisory Panel (Billfish AP) will be held February 9
through 11, 2004, in Silver Spring, MD. Additionally, NMFS solicits
nominations for the HMS AP and the Billfish AP. The intent of these
Advisory Panel meetings is to consider alternatives for the
conservation and management of highly migratory species.
DATES: The HMS AP Shark management meeting will be held from 9:30 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m. on September 30, 2003. The joint HMS-Billfish AP meeting
will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, February 9, 2004, from 8
a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, February 10, 2004, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
on Wednesday, February 11, 2004.
Nominations must be submitted on or before October 10, 2003.
ADDRESSES: The AP meetings will be held at the Holiday Inn, 8777
Georgia Avenue (Rt. 97), Silver Spring, MD 20910. Phone: (301) 589-
0800.
Nominations and requests for the AP Statement of Organization,
Practices, and Procedures should be submitted in writing to Christopher
Rogers, Chief, Highly Migratory Species Management Division, NMFS, 1315
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD, 20910. Nominations may be
submitted by fax; (301) 713-1917.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Othel Freeman or Carol Douglas (301)
713-2347.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
In accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act, (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., as
amended by the Sustainable Fisheries Act, Public Law 104-297, Advisory
Panels (AP) have been established to consult with NMFS in the
collection and evaluation of information relevant to the HMS FMP (April
1999) and the Billfish FMP Amendment (April 1999). Nominations are
being sought to fill one-third of the posts of the HMS AP for 3-year
appointments, and one-half of the posts of the Billfish AP for 2-year
appointments. The nomination process and appointments are required by
the Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures for each AP.
The purpose of the HMS AP is to advise and assist the Secretary of
Commerce (Secretary) in the collection and evaluation of information
relevant to any amendment to the HMS FMP. The HMS AP evaluates future
management options for Atlantic tunas, swordfish, and sharks under the
requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
The purpose of the Billfish AP is to advise and assist the
Secretary in the collection and evaluation of information relevant to
any amendment to the Billfish FMP. The Billfish AP evaluates future
management options for Atlantic billfish under the requirements of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act.
Procedures and Guidelines
A. Procedures for Appointing the Advisory Panels
Individuals with definable interests in the recreational and
commercial fishing and related industries, environmental community,
academia, governmental entities, and non-governmental organizations
will be considered for membership in the AP.
Nominations are invited from all individuals and constituent
groups. The nomination should include:
1. The name of the applicant or nominee and a description of their
interest in highly migratory species (HMS) or one species in particular
from among sharks, swordfish, tunas, and billfish;
2. A statement of background and/or qualifications;
3. The AP to which the applicant seeks appointment;
4. A written commitment that the applicant or nominee shall
actively participate in good faith in the tasks of the AP; and
5. Outreach Resources.
Tenure for the HMS AP:
Member tenure will be for 3 years, with one-third of the members'
terms expiring on the last day of each calendar year. All appointments
will be for 3 years (36 months).
Tenure for the Billfish AP:
Member tenure will be for 2 years, with one-half of the terms
expiring on the last day of each calendar year. All appointments will
be for 2 years (24 months).
B. Participants
The HMS AP consists of not less than 23 members who are
knowledgeable about the fisheries for all Atlantic HMS species. The
Billfish AP consists of not less than nine members who are
knowledgeable about the fisheries for all Atlantic billfish species.
Nominations for each AP will be accepted to allow representation from
recreational and commercial fishing interests, the conservation
community, and the scientific community.
NMFS does not believe that each potentially affected organization
or individual must necessarily have its own representative, but each
area of interest must be adequately represented. The intent is to have
a group that, as a
[[Page 51561]]
whole, reflects an appropriate and equitable balance and mix of
interests given the responsibilities of each AP. Criteria for
membership include one or more of the following: (a) experience in the
recreational fishing industry involved in catching swordfish, tunas,
billfish, or sharks; (b) experience in the commercial fishing industry
for HMS; (c) experience in fishery-related industries (marinas, bait
and tackle shops); (d) experience in the scientific community working
with HMS; (e) representation of a private, non-governmental, regional,
(non-Federal) state, national, or international organization
representing marine fisheries, environmental, governmental or academic
interests dealing with HMS.
Five additional members of the AP include one voting representative
each of the 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 AP also includes 22 ex-
officio participants: 20 representatives of the constituent states and
two representatives of the constituent 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 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 AP meetings.
C. Meeting Schedule
Meetings of each AP will be held as frequently as necessary but are
routinely held once each year in the Spring. Often the meetings are
held jointly, and may be held in conjunction with other advisory panel
meetings or public hearings.
The HMS AP meeting on September 30, 2003, will focus on Atlantic
shark management. NMFS published a proposed rule and notice of
availability of Draft Amendment 1 to the HMS FMP on August 1, 2003 (68
FR 45196). The 60-day comment period ends on September 30, 2003. Since
the alternatives presented in Draft Amendment 1 apply only to
management measures for Atlantic sharks, the HMS AP discussion will be
limited to Atlantic shark management. There will be time for the public
to comment on shark management at the end of the meeting.
The joint HMS-Billfish AP meeting in February 2004 will focus on
management alternatives for Atlantic tunas, swordfish, sharks, and
billfish. On July 9, 2003, NMFS published a notice of intent to prepare
an Environmental Impact Statement for Amendment 2 to the HMS FMP and
Amendment 2 to the Billfish FMP (68 FR 40907). Amendment 2 to the HMS
FMP is intended to address issues regarding quota allocation of
Atlantic bluefin tuna, swordfish, and sharks among and within domestic
fishing categories, examine management alternatives to improve and
streamline the current HMS limited access permit program, conduct a 5-
year review of HMS essential fish habitat (EFH) identifications, and
address exempted fishing and scientific research permitting issues
consistent with rebuilding plans, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, Atlantic
Tunas Convention Act (ATCA), and other relevant Federal laws. Amendment
2 to the Billfish FMP is intended to conduct a 5-year review of
Atlantic billfish EFH identifications and address other issues as
appropriate, consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act, ATCA, and other
relevant Federal laws.
Special Accommodations
These meetings are physically accessible to people with
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to Othel Freeman or Carol Douglas
(see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 7 days prior to the
meeting.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 et seq.
Date: August 21, 2003.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-21951 Filed 8-26-03; 8:45 am]
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