NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, is seeking nominations for the advisory committee established under the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act (Act). The advisory committee, to be composed of individuals from groups concerned with the fisheries covered by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention (Convention), will be given the opportunity to provide input to the United States Commissioners to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (Commission) regarding the deliberations and decisions of the Commission.
Nominations must be received no later than February 25, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Nominations should be directed to Michael Tosatto, Acting Regional Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office, and may be submitted by any of the following means:
Email: pir.wcpfc@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line the
following document identifier: ``Advisory committee nominations''.
Email comments, with or without attachments, are limited to 5
megabytes.
Mail or hand delivery: 1601 Kapiolani Blvd. Suite 1110,
Honolulu, HI 96814.
Facsimile: 808-973-2941.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Oriana Villar, NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office; telephone: 808-944-2256; facsimile: 808-973-2941; email: Oriana.Villar@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Convention and the Commission
The objective of the Convention is to ensure, through effective
management, the long-term conservation and sustainable use of highly
migratory fish stocks in the western and central Pacific Ocean in
accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of
10 December 1982 (UNCLOS) and the Agreement for the Implementation of
the Provisions of the UNCLOS Relating to the Conservation and
Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks.
The Convention establishes the Commission, the secretariat of which is
based in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia.
The Convention applies to all highly migratory fish stocks (defined
as all fish stocks of the species listed in Annex I of the UNCLOS
occurring in the Convention Area, and such other species of fish as the
Commission may determine), except sauries.
The United States actively supported the negotiations and the
development of the Convention and signed the Convention in 2000. It
participated as a cooperating non-member of the Commission since 2005
and became a Contracting Party to the Convention and a full member of
the Commission when it ratified the Convention in January 2007. Under
the Act, the United States will be represented on the Commission by
five Commissioners.
Advisory Committee
The Act (16 U.S.C. 6902) provides (in section 6902(d)) that the
Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the United States
Commissioners to the Commission, will appoint certain members of the
advisory committee established under the Act.
The members to be appointed to the advisory committee are to
include not less than 15 nor more than 20 individuals selected from the
various groups concerned with the fisheries covered by the Convention,
providing, to the extent practicable, an equitable balance among such
groups. On behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, NMFS is now seeking
nominations for these appointments.
In addition to the 15-20 appointed members, the advisory committee
also includes the chair of the Western Pacific Fishery Management
Council's Advisory Committee (or designee), and officials of the
fisheries management authorities of American Samoa, Guam, and the
Northern Mariana Islands (or their designees).
Members of the advisory committee will be invited to attend all
non-executive meetings of the United States Commissioners to the
Commission and at such meetings will be given opportunity to examine
and be heard on all proposed programs of investigation, reports,
recommendations, and regulations of the Commission.
Each appointed member of the advisory committee will serve for a
term of two years and is eligible for reappointment. This request for
nominations is for the term to begin on or after August 2, 2013 and is
for a term of two consecutive years.
The Secretaries of Commerce and State will furnish the advisory
committee with relevant information concerning fisheries and
international fishery agreements.
NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, will provide to the
advisory committee administrative and technical support services as are
necessary for its effective functioning.
Appointed members of the advisory committee will serve without pay,
but while away from their homes or regular places of business in the
performance of services for the advisory committee will be allowed
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same
manner as persons employed intermittently in the Government service are
allowed expenses under section 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
They will not be considered Federal employees while performing service
as members of the advisory committee except for the purposes of injury
compensation or tort claims liability as provided in chapter 81 of
title 5, United States Code and Chapter 171 of title 28, United States
Code.
Procedure for Submitting Nominations
Nominations for the advisory committee should be submitted to NMFS
(see ADDRESSES). This request for nominations is for first time
nominees as well as current Advisory Committee members. Self
nominations are acceptable. Nominations should include the following
information: (1) Full name, address, telephone, facsimile, and email of
nominee; (2) nominee's organization(s) or professional affiliation(s)
serving as the basis for the nomination, if any; and (3) a background
statement, not to exceed one page in length, describing the nominee's
qualifications, experience and interests, specifically as related to
the fisheries covered by the Convention.