[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 238 (Thursday, December 11, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73555-73557]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29045]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XD532
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Advisory Panel for Atlantic
Highly Migratory Species Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review
Workshops
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; nominations for Advisory Panel, updated Terms of
Reference for SEDAR Pool.
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SUMMARY: NMFS solicits nominations for the Advisory Panel (AP) for
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Southeast Data, Assessment, and
Review (SEDAR) Workshops (this AP is also called the ``SEDAR Pool'').
We also notify the public of updates to the Terms of Reference for the
SEDAR Pool, including changes to the length of time selectees may
serve. The SEDAR Pool is comprised of a group of individuals whom may
be selected to consider data and advise NMFS regarding the scientific
information, including but not limited to data and models, used in
stock assessments for oceanic sharks in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of
Mexico, and Caribbean Sea. Nominations are being sought for a 5-year
appointment (2015-2020). Individuals with definable interests in the
recreational and commercial fishing and related industries,
environmental community, academia, and non-governmental organizations
will be considered for membership on the SEDAR Pool.
DATES: Nominations must be received on or before January 12, 2015.
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ADDRESSES: You may submit nominations and request the SEDAR Pool
Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures by any of the
following methods:
Email: [email protected].
Mail: Karyl Brewster-Geisz, Highly Migratory Species
Management Division, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD
20910. Include on the envelope the following identifier: ``SEDAR Pool
Nomination.''
Fax: 301-713-1917.
Additional information on SEDAR and the SEDAR guidelines can be
found at http://www.sefsc.noaa.gov/sedar/. The terms of reference for
the SEDAR Pool, along with a list of current members, can be found at
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/SEDAR/SEDAR.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Delisse Ortiz or Karyl Brewster-Geisz,
(301) 425-8503.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
Section 302(g)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., states
that each Council shall establish such advisory panels as are necessary
or appropriate to assist it in carrying out its functions under the
Act. For the purposes of this section, NMFS applies the above Council
provision to the HMS Management Division (See Section 303(g)(1) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act, which provides that the Secretary will prepare
fishery management plans for HMS and consult with Advisory Panels under
section 302(g) for such FMPs). As such, NMFS has established the SEDAR
Pool under this section. The SEDAR Pool currently consists of 33
individuals who can be selected to review data and advise NMFS
regarding the scientific information, including but not limited to data
and models, used in stock assessments for oceanic sharks in the
Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea. While the SEDAR Pool
was created specifically for Atlantic oceanic sharks, it may be
expanded to include other HMS, as needed.
The primary purpose of the individuals in the SEDAR Pool is to
review, at SEDAR workshops, the scientific information (including but
not limited to data and models) used in stock assessments that are used
to advise NMFS, as a delegate to the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary),
about the conservation and management of the Atlantic HMS, specifically
but not limited to, Atlantic sharks. Individuals in the SEDAR Pool, if
selected, may participate in the various data, assessment, and review
workshops during the SEDAR process of any HMS stock assessment. In
order to ensure that the peer review is unbiased, individuals who
participated in a data and/or assessment workshop for a particular
stock assessment will not be allowed to serve as reviewers for the same
stock assessment. However, these individuals may be asked to attend the
review workshop to answer specific questions from the reviewers
concerning the data and/or assessment workshops. Members of the SEDAR
Pool may serve as members of other APs concurrent with, or following,
their service on the SEDAR Pool.
Procedures and Guidelines
A. Terms of Reference
NMFS is updating the Terms of Reference for the SEDAR Pool, which
were first established in 2010 with the formation of this advisory
panel. The updated Terms of Reference allow invited SEDAR Pool members
to send a designee to represent them and participate in the activities
of the workshop, after following specified procedures, including
written notice to the Chief of the HMS Management Division. The updated
Terms of Reference also extend member tenure from 3 to 5 years, to
allow continued participation by interested parties. The Terms of
Reference are available at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/advisory_panels/sedar_ap/sedar_hms_ap_terms_of_reference.pdf.
B. Participants
The SEDAR Pool is comprised of individuals representing the
commercial and recreational fishing communities for Atlantic sharks,
the environmental community active in the conservation and management
of Atlantic sharks, and the academic community that have relevant
expertise either with sharks or shark-like species and/or stock
assessment methodologies for marine fish species. Members of the SEDAR
Pool must have demonstrated experience in the fisheries, related
industries, research, teaching, writing, conservation, or management of
marine organisms. The distribution of representation among the
interested parties is not defined or limited.
Additional members of the SEDAR Pool may also include
representatives from each of the five Atlantic Regional Fishery
Management Councils, each of the 18 states, both the U.S. Virgin
Islands and Puerto Rico, and each of the interstate commissions: The
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Gulf States Marine
Fisheries Commission.
If NMFS requires additional members to ensure a diverse pool of
individuals for data or assessment workshops, NMFS may request
individuals to become members of the SEDAR Pool outside of the annual
nomination period.
Panel members serve at the discretion of the Secretary. Not all
members will attend each SEDAR workshop. Rather, NMFS will invite
certain members to participate at specific stock assessment workshops
dependent on their ability to participate, discuss, and recommend
scientific decisions regarding the species being assessed. If an
invited SEDAR Pool member is unable to attend the workshop, the member
may send a designee who may represent them and participate in the
activities of the workshop. In order to ensure the designee meets the
requirements of participating in the data and/or assessment workshop,
the designee must receive written approval of the HMS Management
Division Chief at least two weeks in advance of the beginning of the
relevant data and/or assessment workshop. Written notification must
include the name, address, telephone, email, and position of the
individual designated. A designee may not name another designee.
NMFS is not obligated to fulfill any requests (e.g., requests for
an assessment of a certain species) that may be made by the SEDAR Pool
or its individual members. Members of the SEDAR Pool who are invited to
attend stock assessment workshops will not be compensated for their
services but may be reimbursed for their travel-related expenses to
attend such workshops.
C. Nomination Procedures for Appointments to the SEDAR Pool
Member tenure will be for 5 years. Nominations are sought for terms
beginning early in 2015 and expiring in 2020. Nomination packages
should include:
1. The name, address, phone number, and email of the applicant or
nominee;
2. A description of his/her interest in Atlantic shark stock
assessments or the Atlantic shark fishery;
3. A statement of background and/or qualifications; and
4. A written commitment that the applicant or nominee shall
participate actively and in good faith in the tasks of the SEDAR Pool,
as requested.
D. Meeting Schedule
Individual members of the SEDAR Pool meet to participate in stock
assessments at the discretion of the
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Office of Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS. Stock assessment timing,
frequency, and relevant species will vary depending on the needs
determined by NMFS and SEDAR staff. Currently, other than meetings
needed to complete the ongoing smoothhound shark stock assessment, NMFS
does not anticipate holding any stock assessment meetings for other
Atlantic shark species in 2015. In 2016, NMFS anticipates starting a
stock assessment on Atlantic blacktip sharks. During an assessment
year, meetings and meeting logistics will be determined according to
the SEDAR Guidelines. All meetings are open for observation by the
public.
Dated: December 8, 2014.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-29045 Filed 12-10-14; 8:45 am]
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