[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 30, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74004-74005]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-30176]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XA059
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Advisory Panel
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: NMFS solicits nominations for the Advisory Panel (AP) for
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Southeast Data, Assessment, and
Review (SEDAR) Workshops (this AP is also called the ``SEDAR Pool'').
The SEDAR Pool is comprised of a group of individuals whom may be
selected to review data and advise NMFS regarding the scientific
information, including but not limited to data and models, used in
stock assessments for oceanic sharks in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of
Mexico, and Caribbean Sea. Nominations are being sought for a three-
year appointment (2011-2014). Individuals with definable interests in
the recreational and commercial fishing and related industries,
environmental community, academia, and non-governmental organizations
will be considered for membership on the SEDAR Pool.
DATES: Nominations must be received on or before December 30, 2010.
ADDRESSES: You may submit nominations and request the SEDAR Pool
Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures by any of the
following methods:
E-mail: [email protected].
Mail: Karyl Brewster-Geisz, Highly Migratory Species
Management Division, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD
20910. Include on the envelope the following identifier: ``SEDAR Pool
Nomination.''
Fax: 301-713-1917.
Additional information on SEDAR and the SEDAR guidelines can be
found at http://www.sefsc.noaa.gov/sedar/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karyl Brewster-Geisz, (301) 713-2347
ext. 111.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
Section 302(g)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., states
that each Council shall establish such advisory panels as are necessary
or appropriate to assist it in carrying out its functions under the
Act. For the purposes of this section, NMFS considers the Council
provision to be applicable to the HMS Management Division as well. As
such, NMFS has established the SEDAR Pool under this section. The SEDAR
Pool currently consists of 28 individuals who can be selected to review
data and advise NMFS regarding the scientific information, including
but not limited to data and models, used in stock assessments for
oceanic sharks in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean
Sea. While the SEDAR Pool was created specifically for Atlantic oceanic
sharks, it may be expanded to include other HMS, as needed.
The primary purpose of the individuals in the SEDAR Pool is to
review, at SEDAR workshops, the scientific information, including but
not limited to data and models, used in stock assessments that are used
to advise NMFS, as a delegate to the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary),
about the conservation and management of the Atlantic HMS, specifically
but not limited to, Atlantic sharks. Individuals in the SEDAR Pool, if
selected, may participate in the various data, assessment, and review
workshops during the SEDAR process of any HMS stock assessment. In
order to ensure that the peer review is unbiased, individuals who
participated in a data and/or assessment workshop for a particular
stock assessment will not be allowed to serve as reviewers for the same
stock assessment. However, these individuals may be asked to attend the
review workshop to answer specific questions from the reviewers
concerning the data and/or assessment workshops. Members of the SEDAR
Pool may serve as members of other APs concurrent with, or following,
their service on the SEDAR Pool.
[[Page 74005]]
Procedures and Guidelines
A. Participants
The SEDAR Pool is comprised of individuals representing the
commercial and recreational fishing communities for Atlantic HMS, the
environmental community active in the conservation and management of
Atlantic HMS, and the academic community that have relevant expertise
either with sharks or shark-like species and/or stock assessment
methodologies for marine fish species. Members of the SEDAR Pool must
have demonstrated experience in the fisheries, related industries,
research, teaching, writing, conservation, or management of marine
organisms. The distribution of representation among the interested
parties is not defined or limited.
Additional members of the SEDAR Pool may also include
representatives from each of the five Atlantic Regional Fishery
Management Councils, each of the 18 constituent states, both the U.S.
Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, and each of the constituent interstate
commissions: The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the
Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission.
If NMFS requires additional members to ensure a diverse pool of
individuals to draw from for data or assessment workshops, NMFS may
request individuals to become members of the SEDAR Pool outside of the
annual nomination period.
Panel members serve at the discretion of the Secretary. Not all
members will attend each SEDAR workshop. Rather, NMFS will invite
certain members to participate at specific stock assessment workshops
dependent on their ability to participate, discuss, and recommend
scientific decisions regarding the species being assessed. If an
invited SEDAR Pool member is unable to attend the workshop, the member
may send a designee who may represent them and participate in the
activities of the workshop. In order to ensure the designee meets the
requirements of participating in the data and/or assessment workshop,
the designee must receive written approval of the Deputy Director of
the Office of Sustainable Fisheries at least six weeks in advance of
the beginning of the relevant data and/or assessment workshop. Written
notification must include the name, address, telephone, e-mail, and
position of the individual designated. A designee may not name another
designee.
NMFS is not obligated to fulfill any requests (e.g., requests for
an assessment of a certain species) that may be made by the SEDAR Pool
or its individual members. Members of the SEDAR Pool who are invited to
attend stock assessment workshops will not be compensated for their
services but may be reimbursed for their travel-related expenses to
attend such workshops.
B. Nomination Procedures for Appointments to the SEDAR Pool
Member tenure will be for three years. Nominations are sought for
terms beginning February 2011 and expiring January 2014. Nomination
packages should include:
1. The name, address, phone number, and e-mail of the applicant or
nominee;
2. A description of his/her interest in Atlantic shark stock
assessments or the Atlantic shark fishery;
3. A statement of background and/or qualifications; and
4. A written commitment that the applicant or nominee shall
participate actively and in good faith in the tasks of the SEDAR Pool,
as requested.
C. Meeting Schedule
Individual members of the SEDAR Pool meet to participate in stock
assessments at the discretion of the Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
NMFS. Stock assessment timing, frequency, and relevant species will
vary depending on the needs determined by NMFS and SEDAR staff.
Meetings and meeting logistics will be determined according to the
SEDAR Guidelines. All meetings are open for observation by the public.
Dated: November 24, 2010.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-30176 Filed 11-29-10; 8:45 am]
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