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 Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648-XD476]
 AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
 ACTION: Notice; solicitation of nominations.
 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 
                        *HMSAP.Nominations@noaa.gov.*
                         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 
                        *HMSAP.Nominations@noaa.gov.*


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
Sector
Fishing region
Species
Date appointed
Date term expires
Member statusAcademic
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.( print 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.**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] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P