[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 38 (Wednesday, February 26, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8686-8687]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4655]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 022097A]


Advisory Panel on Atlantic Pelagic Longline Fisheries

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 Atlantic pelagics longline 
advisory panel (AP). The purpose of the AP would be to assist NMFS in 
the design and implementation of a survey, workshops, and a 
comprehensive management system for pelagic longline fisheries. The AP 
will include representatives from all constituent groups with an 
interest in Atlantic pelagic longline fisheries.

DATES: Nominations must be submitted on or before March 28, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be submitted Rebecca Lent, 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: John Kelly, 301-713-2347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    In accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., as amended by the Sustainable 
Fisheries Act, Public Law 104-297, an Advisory Panel (AP) will be 
established to assist NMFS in the design and implementation of a 
survey, workshops, and a comprehensive management system for pelagic 
longlining fishing vessels that participate in fisheries for Atlantic 
highly migratory species (HMS).
    The purpose of the AP is to assist in developing a comprehensive 
management system for pelagic longline

[[Page 8687]]

fishing vessels that participate in HMS fisheries. Surveys and 
workshops will be conducted by NMFS personnel and/or contractors with 
affected fishery participants, in order to provide information and 
identify options for the development of the management system. NMFS, in 
consultation with the AP, will develop a plan to conduct a study on the 
feasibility of implementing a comprehensive management system.

Procedures and Guidelines

    A. Procedures for Establishing the Advisory Panel.
    Individuals representing definable interests in the recreational 
and commercial fishing and related industries, environmental community, 
academia, governmental and quasi-governmental entities will be 
considered as members of the AP. Selection of AP members will not be 
limited to those that are nominated.
    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 or connection with HMS and the pelagic longline fishery in 
particular;
    2. A statement of background and/or qualifications;
    3. A written commitment that the applicant or nominee shall 
actively participate in good faith in the tasks of the AP.
    B. Participants.
    The AP shall consist of not less than seven (7) members who are 
knowledgeable about the Atlantic pelagic longline fishery. Nominations 
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 interest must be adequately represented. The 
intent is to have a group that as a whole reflects an appropriate 
balance and mix of interests given the responsibilities of the AP. 
Criteria for membership include (one or more of the following): a) 
Experience in or knowledge of the commercial longline fishing industry 
involved in harvesting tunas, swordfish, or sharks; b) experience in or 
knowledge of the recreational fishing industry involved in harvesting 
HMS; c) experience in connected industries (marinas, bait and tackle 
shops, processors); d) experience in the scientific community working 
with HMS; e) former or current representative of private, regional, 
state, national, or international organization representing marine 
fisheries interests dealing with HMS.
    NMFS will provide the necessary administrative support, including 
technical assistance, for the AP. However, we will be unable to 
compensate participants with monetary support of any kind because no 
funds were appropriated to support this activity in fiscal year 1997. 
Members will be expected to pay for travel costs related to the AP.
    C. Tentative Schedule.
    Meetings of the AP will be held twice or thrice yearly. NMFS, in 
consultation with the AP, will develop by June 1997, a plan to conduct 
workshops/surveys and results of these workshops and surveys will be 
published by December 1997. A plan to conduct a feasibility study of 
the comprehensive management plan will be developed by July 1997 and 
the final study will be published and distributed by January 1998. NMFS 
has initially determined that the responsibilities of the AP members 
will be concluded by October 1998, as management advisory 
responsibilities will be carried out by other AP's for swordfish, 
sharks, billfish, and tunas. These AP's will consider any comprehensive 
management plan that is developed in consultation with this longline 
AP.

    Dated: February 19, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-4655 Filed 2-25-97; 8:45 am]
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