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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 222 (Monday, November 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 90673-90674]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-26813]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XE458]

Nominations for the 2025-2028 General Advisory Committee and the 
Scientific Advisory Subcommittee to the United States Delegation to the 
Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission

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

ACTION: Notice; request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: National Marine Fisheries Service, on behalf of the Secretary 
of Commerce, is seeking nominations for the General Advisory Committee 
(GAC) to the U.S. delegation to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna 
Commission (IATTC or Commission), as well as to a Scientific Advisory 
Subcommittee (SAS) of the GAC. The purpose of the GAC and its SAS is to 
provide public input and advice to the U.S. delegation to aid in the 
formulation of policy and positions for meetings of the IATTC and its 
subsidiary bodies. The SAS shall also function as the National 
Scientific Advisory Committee provided for in the Agreement on the 
International Dolphin Conservation Program.

DATES: Nominations must be received no later than December 17th, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be directed to Jennifer Quan, Regional 
Administrator, NMFS West Coast Region, and may be submitted by the 
following means:
     Email [email protected] with the subject line: ``General 
Advisory Committee and Scientific Advisory Subcommittee nominations''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lucille Bulkeley, West Coast Region, 
NMFS, at [email protected], or at (858)-546-5620.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

General Advisory Committee

    The Tuna Conventions Act (TCA) provides that the Secretary of

[[Page 90674]]

Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall appoint a 
``General Advisory Committee'' to advise the U.S. delegation to the 
IATTC. The GAC shall be composed of no more than 25 individuals who 
shall be representative of the various groups concerned with the 
fisheries covered by the IATTC, including non-governmental conservation 
organizations, providing an equitable balance among such groups to the 
maximum extent practicable. Members of the GAC shall be invited to 
attend all non-executive meetings of the U.S. delegation to the IATTC 
and at such meetings shall be given the opportunity to examine and be 
heard on all proposed programs of investigation, reports, 
recommendations, and regulations of the Commission.
    The Chair of the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific 
Council) Advisory Subpanel for Highly Migratory Fisheries and the Chair 
of the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Western Pacific 
Council) Advisory Committee shall be ex-officio members of the GAC by 
virtue of their positions advising those Councils. GAC members will be 
eligible to participate as members of the U.S. delegation to the 
Commission and its working groups to the extent that the Commission 
rules and space for delegations allow.
    Meetings of the GAC, except when in executive session, shall be 
open to the public, and prior notice of meetings shall be made public 
in timely fashion. In accordance with Public Law 114-81, the GAC shall 
not be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. app.).
    Individuals appointed to serve as a member of the GAC shall serve 
without pay. While away from their homes or regular places of business 
to attend meetings of the GAC, they shall be allowed travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as 
persons employed intermittently by the Federal Government are allowed 
expenses under 5 U.S.C. 5703. In addition, individuals appointed to 
serve as a member of the GAC shall not be considered Federal employees 
except for the purposes of injury compensation or tort.

Scientific Advisory Subcommittee

    The TCA also provides that the Secretary of Commerce, in 
consultation with the Secretary of State, shall appoint persons to 
serve on the subcommittee of the GAC, referred to here as the 
``Scientific Advisory Subcommittee.'' The SAS shall be composed of no 
fewer than 5 and no more than 15 qualified scientists with balanced 
representation from the public and private sectors, including non-
governmental conservation organizations. In determining whether a 
person is a qualified scientist the Secretary may consider, among other 
things, advanced degrees and/or publications in fields such as 
fisheries or marine science.

National Scientific Advisory Committee

    The SAS shall also function as the National Scientific Advisory 
Committee which is required to be established pursuant to Article XI of 
the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Program 
(AIDCP). In this regard, the SAS shall perform the functions of the 
National Scientific Advisory Committee as specified in Annex VI of the 
AIDCP. These functions include, but are not limited to: (1) Receiving 
and reviewing relevant data, including data provided to NMFS by IATTC 
staff; (2) Advising and recommending measures and actions to the U.S. 
Government that should be undertaken to conserve and manage stocks of 
living marine resources in the eastern Pacific Ocean; (3) Making 
recommendations to the U.S. Government regarding research needs related 
to the eastern Pacific Ocean tuna purse seine fishery; (4) Promoting 
the regular and timely full exchange of data among the AIDCP Parties on 
a variety of matters related to the implementation of the AIDCP; and 
(5) Consulting with other experts, as necessary, in order to achieve 
the objectives of the AIDCP.
    Members of the SAS/National Scientific Advisory Committee shall 
receive no compensation for their service.

General Provisions

    Each member of the GAC shall be appointed for a term of 3 years, 
starting from the date of the appointment, and may be reappointed. The 
Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of State shall provide the GAC 
with relevant information concerning fisheries and international 
fishery agreements. The Secretary of Commerce shall provide to the GAC 
such administrative and technical support services that are necessary 
for its effective functioning in a timely manner.

Procedures for Submitting Applications

    Applications for the GAC and the SAS/National Scientific Advisory 
Committee should be submitted to NMFS West Coast Region (see 
ADDRESSES). This request for applications is for first time nominees, 
current members whose appointments will end in May 2025, and previous 
members. Self-nomination applications are acceptable. Applications 
should include all of the following information: (1) Full name, address 
(home and business, if different), telephone, and email address of 
nominee;
    (2) Specification about whether the application is for the GAC or 
the SAS/National Scientific Advisory Committee or both; (3) Nominee's 
organization(s) or professional affiliation(s) serving as the basis for 
the nomination; (4) Background statement describing the nominee's 
qualifications and experience, especially as related to fisheries for 
tuna and tuna-like species in the eastern Pacific Ocean or other 
factors relevant to the implementation of the Convention Establishing 
the IATTC or the AIDCP. Applications to the SAS should highlight 
advanced degrees and academic publications; and (5) A written statement 
from the nominee of intent to participate actively and in good faith in 
the meetings and activities of either the GAC or the SAS/National 
Scientific Advisory Committee, or both.
    Applicants who submitted material in response to the Federal 
Register notice published by NMFS on October 30, 2018 (83 FR 54573), or 
prior, should resubmit their applications pursuant to this notice.
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 951 et seq.

    Dated: November 13, 2024.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-26813 Filed 11-15-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-23-P
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