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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 223 (Tuesday, November 19, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 91364-91365]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-26902]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XE444]

Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Advisory Panel

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

ACTION: Notice; solicitation of nominations.

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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 (12) of the seats on the HMS AP, each with a 3-
year appointment. NMFS will consider individuals with definable 
interests in recreational and commercial fishing and related 
industries, including those from the environmental community, academia, 
and non-governmental organizations, for membership on the HMS AP.

DATES: Submit nominations on or before December 19, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit nominations and requests for the Advisory 
Panel Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures by email to 
[email protected]. Include in the subject line the following 
identifier: ``HMS AP Nominations.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Quintrell at 301-427-7861 or via 
email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: HMS fisheries (tunas, swordfish, sharks, and 
billfish) are managed under the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and its 
amendments pursuant to the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act; 16 U.S.C. 1801 
et seq.) and consistent with the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (16 
U.S.C. 971 et seq.). HMS implementing regulations are at 50 CFR part 
635.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires NMFS to establish an AP for each 
HMS FMP (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 (12) of the seats on 
the HMS AP for 3-year appointments. NMFS will consider individuals with 
definable interests in recreational and commercial fishing and related 
industries, including those from the environmental community, academia, 
and non-governmental organizations for membership on the HMS AP as 
described below.

Procedures and Guidelines

Nomination Procedures for Appointments to the AP

    Nomination packages should include:
    1. The name and contact information, including mailing address, 
email address, and phone number of the nominee;
    2. A description of the nominee's interest in HMS or HMS fisheries, 
or in particular species of tunas, swordfish, sharks, or billfish;
    3. A statement of the nominee's background and/or qualifications;
    4. A list of outreach resources that the nominee has at their 
disposal to communicate qualifications for HMS AP membership; and
    5. A written commitment that the nominee shall actively participate 
in good faith in the meetings and tasks of the HMS AP.
    Advisory Panel members will be required to comply with applicable 
rules of conduct, including all ethics requirements. Qualification for 
membership includes experience in one or more of the following:
    1. HMS recreational fisheries;
    2. HMS commercial fisheries;
    3. Fishery-related industries (e.g., marinas, bait and tackle 
shops);
    4. 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.

HMS AP Tenure

    Members are appointed for 3-year terms. Approximately one-third of 
the members' terms expire on December 31 of each year. NMFS is seeking 
nominations for terms beginning January 2025 and expiring December 
2027.
    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.

Participants

    NMFS will accept nominations for the HMS AP that allow for 
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.

[[Page 91365]]

NMFS seeks to fill four commercial, four recreational, one 
environmental, and three academic sector vacancies for terms starting 
in 2025.
    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
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                Sector                      Fishing region                Species            Date appointed   Date term expires       Member status
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Academic.............................  NE/Mid-Atlantic.........  Tuna/Shark..............           1/1/2022         12/31/2024  Expiring.
Academic.............................  SE/Gulf.................  Sharks..................           1/1/2022         12/31/2024  Expiring.
Academic.............................  Northeast...............  Tunas...................           1/1/2022         12/31/2024  Expiring.
Academic.............................  All.....................  All HMS.................           1/1/2024         12/31/2026  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..................           1/1/2024         12/31/2026  Active.
Commercial...........................  Northeast...............  Tuna....................           1/1/2024         12/31/2026  Active.
Commercial...........................  Gulf of Mexico..........  All HMS.................           1/1/2024         12/31/2026  Active.
Commercial...........................  Northeast...............  Tuna....................           1/1/2024         12/31/2026  Active.
Commercial...........................  Northeast...............  All HMS.................           1/1/2024         12/31/2026  Active.
Commercial...........................  NE/SE/GOM...............  All HMS.................           1/1/2022         12/31/2024  Expiring.
Commercial...........................  Southeast...............  Sharks..................           1/1/2022         12/31/2024  Expiring.
Commercial...........................  Gulf of Mexico..........  All HMS.................           1/1/2022         12/31/2024  Expiring.
Commercial...........................  Northeast...............  Swordfish/Tuna..........           1/1/2022         12/31/2024  Expiring.
Environmental........................  All.....................  Tuna....................           1/1/2023         12/31/2025  Active.
Environmental........................  All.....................  All HMS.................           1/1/2023         12/31/2025  Active.
Environmental........................  All.....................  Shark...................           1/1/2024         12/31/2026  Active.
Environmental........................  Caribbean...............  All HMS.................           1/1/2022         12/31/2024  Expiring.
Recreational.........................  All.....................  All HMS.................           1/1/2023         12/31/2025  Active.
Recreational.........................  Northeast...............  Tuna....................           1/1/2023         12/31/2025  Active.
Recreational.........................  All.....................  All HMS.................           1/1/2023         12/31/2025  Active.
Recreational.........................  Northeast...............  Tuna/Shark..............           1/1/2023         12/31/2025  Active.
Recreational.........................  Gulf of Mexico..........  All HMS.................           1/1/2023         12/31/2025  Active.
Recreational.........................  All.....................  Billfish................           1/1/2024         12/31/2026  Active.
Recreational.........................  Mid-Atlantic............  Shark...................           1/1/2024         12/31/2026  Active.
Recreational.........................  Southeast/Mid Atlantic..  Billfish................           1/1/2024         12/31/2026  Active.
Recreational.........................  NE/SE/GOM...............  All HMS.................           1/1/2022         12/31/2024  Expiring.
Recreational.........................  Northeast...............  Tuna/Shark..............           1/1/2022         12/31/2024  Expiring.
Recreational.........................  Mid-Atlantic............  All HMS.................           1/1/2022         12/31/2024  Expiring.
Recreational.........................  Southeast...............  All HMS.................           1/1/2022         12/31/2024  Expiring.
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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 Fishery Management 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.

Meeting Schedule

    NMFS will hold meetings of the HMS AP as frequently as necessary 
and, at a minimum, twice each year. In recent years, NMFS held meetings 
once in the spring, and once in the fall. The meetings may be held in 
conjunction with public hearings.

    Dated: November 12, 2024.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-26902 Filed 11-18-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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