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###### Department of Commerce

###### National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

          - [RTID 0648-XA715]

# AGENCY:

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

# ACTION:

Notice of request for nominations.

# SUMMARY:

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 Permanent Advisory Committee, 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 U.S. Commissioners to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (Commission) regarding the deliberations and decisions of the Commission.

# DATES:

Nominations must be received no later than February 18, 2021. Nominations received after the deadline will not be accepted.

# ADDRESSES:

Nominations should be directed to Michael Tosatto, 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: “Permanent Advisory Committee nominations”. Email comments, including attachments, are limited to 5 megabytes.                    
      -  Mail or hand delivery:                          1845 Wasp Boulevard, Bldg 176, Honolulu, HI 96818.                    
      -  Facsimile:                          808-725-5215.                    

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

                        Emily Reynolds, NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office; telephone: 808-725-5039; facsimile: 808-725-5215; email:                         *emily.reynolds@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 when it was opened for signature in 2000. It participated as a cooperating non-member of the Commission since it became operational in 2005. The United States 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 is to be represented on the Commission by five U.S. Commissioners, appointed by the President.

## Permanent Advisory Committee

The Act (16 U.S.C. 6902) provides (in section 6902(d)) that the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the U.S. Commissioners to the Commission, will appoint individuals as members of the advisory committee established under the Act, referred to here as the “Permanent Advisory Committee”.

The appointed members of the Permanent 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 Permanent Advisory Committee 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 Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (or their designees).

Members of the Permanent Advisory Committee will be invited to attend all non-executive meetings of the U.S. 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 Permanent Advisory Committee will serve for a term of 2 years and is eligible for reappointment. This request for nominations is for the term to begin on August 3, 2021, and is for a term of 2 consecutive years.

The Secretaries of Commerce and State will furnish the Permanent Advisory Committee with relevant information concerning fisheries and international fishery agreements.

NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, will provide to the Permanent Advisory Committee administrative and technical support services as are necessary for its effective functioning.

                    Appointed members of the Permanent 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                           ( print page 74)                        persons employed intermittently in the Government service are allowed expenses under 5 U.S.C. 5703. 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 5 U.S.C. 81 and 28 U.S.C. 171.                

## Procedure for Submitting Nominations

                    Nominations for the Permanent Advisory Committee should be submitted to NMFS (see                     **ADDRESSES**                    ). This request for nominations is for first-time nominees as well as previous and current Permanent Advisory Committee members. Self nominations are acceptable. Nominations should include the following information: (1) Full name, address, telephone, and email address 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.                

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 6902.

Dated: December 29, 2020.

Jennifer M. Wallace,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 2020-29075 Filed 12-31-20; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-P