Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Advisory Panel for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review Workshops, 57565-57567 [2016-20103]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 163 / Tuesday, August 23, 2016 / Notices
January 5, 2016, and the meeting is
summarized at https://docs.google.com/
document/d/1VdP96SYCPcZZvX
prowMq8rp6FURCxSh1uo4Dd1tTpJY/
edit?usp=drive_web.
There is no cost for participating in
the consortium. No proprietary
information will be shared as part of the
consortium, and all research results will
be in the public domain.
All attendees are required to preregister. Anyone wishing to attend this
meeting must pre-register at https://
appam.certain.com/profile/form/
index.cfm?PKformID=0x311041593 by
5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday,
September 8, 2016, in order to attend.
Kent Rochford,
Associate Director for Laboratory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2016–20120 Filed 8–22–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Proposed Information Collection;
Comment Request; South Pacific Tuna
Act
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Department of
Commerce, as part of its continuing
effort to reduce paperwork and
respondent burden, invites the general
public and other Federal agencies to
take this opportunity to comment on
proposed and/or continuing information
collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
DATES: Written comments must be
submitted on or before October 24,
2016.
SUMMARY:
Direct all written comments
to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental
Paperwork Clearance Officer,
Department of Commerce, Room 6616,
14th and Constitution Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20230 (or via the
Internet at JJessup@doc.gov).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection
instrument and instructions should be
directed to Tom Graham, (808) 725–
5032 or tom.graham@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
ADDRESSES:
I. Abstract
The National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
collects vessel license, vessel
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registration, catch, and unloading
information from operators of United
States (U.S.) purse seine vessels fishing
within a large region of the western and
central Pacific Ocean, which is
governed by the Treaty on Fisheries
between the Governments of Certain
Pacific Island States and the
Government of the United States of
America. The Treaty, along with its
annexes, schedules and implementing
agreements, was signed in Port Moresby,
Papua New Guinea, in 1987. This
collection of information is required to
meet U.S. obligations under the Treaty.
The Treaty authorizes U.S. tuna
vessels to fish within fishing zones of a
large region of the Pacific Ocean. The
South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988 (16
U.S.C. 973–973r) and U.S.
implementing regulations (50 CFR part
300, subpart D) authorize the collection
of information from participants in the
Treaty fishery. Vessel operators who
wish to participate in the Treaty Fishery
must submit annual vessel license and
registration (including registration of
vessel monitoring system (VMS) units)
applications and periodic written
reports of catch and unloading of fish
from licensed vessels. They are also
required to ensure the continued
operation of VMS units on board
licensed vessels, which is expected to
require periodic maintenance of the
units. The information collected is
submitted to the Pacific Islands Forum
Fisheries Agency (FFA) through the U.S.
government, NOAA’s National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS). The license
and registration application information
is used by the FFA to determine the
operational capability and financial
responsibility of a vessel operator
interested in participating in the Treaty
fishery. Information obtained from
vessel catch and unloading reports is
used by the FFA to assess fishing effort
and fishery resources in the region and
to track the amount of fish caught
within each Pacific island state’s
exclusive economic zone for fair
disbursement of Treaty monies.
Maintenance of VMS units is needed to
ensure the continuous operation of the
VMS units, which, as part of the VMS
administered by the FFA, are used as an
enforcement tool. If the information is
not collected, the U.S. government will
not meet its obligations under the
Treaty, and the lack of fishing
information will result in poor
management of the fishery resources.
All information should be submitted
in hard copy via mail.
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III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648–0218.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission
(extension of a currently approved
collection).
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
41.
Estimated Time per Response: License
application, 15 minutes; VMS
registration application, 45 minutes;
catch report, 1 hour; and unloading
logsheet, 30 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 402.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to
Public: $143,121 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.
IV. Request for Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information shall have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden
(including hours and cost) of the
proposed collection of information; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on respondents, including through the
use of automated collection techniques
or other forms of information
technology.
Comments submitted in response to
this notice will be summarized and/or
included in the request for OMB
approval of this information collection;
they also will become a matter of public
record.
Dated: August 18, 2016.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016–20080 Filed 8–22–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XE794
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species;
Advisory Panel for Atlantic Highly
Migratory Species Southeast Data,
Assessment, and Review Workshops
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
AGENCY:
II. Method of Collection
57565
E:\FR\FM\23AUN1.SGM
23AUN1
57566
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 163 / Tuesday, August 23, 2016 / Notices
Notice; nominations for shark
stock assessment Advisory Panel.
ACTION:
NMFS solicits nominations
for the ‘‘SEDAR Pool,’’ also known as
the Advisory Panel for Atlantic Highly
Migratory Species (HMS) Southeast
Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR)
Workshops. The SEDAR Pool is
comprised of a group of individuals
who 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 (2017–
2022). 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 September 22, 2016.
ADDRESSES: You may submit
nominations and request the SEDAR
Pool Statement of Organization,
Practices, and Procedures by any of the
following methods:
• Email: SEDAR.pool@noaa.gov.
• 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 https://www.sefsc.noaa.gov/sedar/.
The terms of reference for the SEDAR
Pool, along with a list of current
members, can be found at https://
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/SEDAR/
SEDAR.htm.
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Delisse Ortiz, (240–681–9037) or Karyl
Brewster-Geisz, (301) 425–8503.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Background
Section 302(g)(2) of the MagnusonStevens 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
304(g)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act,
which provides that the Secretary will
prepare fishery management plans for
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:56 Aug 22, 2016
Jkt 238001
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 27
individuals, each of whom may 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 Advisory Panels
concurrent with, or following, their
service on the SEDAR Pool.
Procedures and Guidelines
A. 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
and/or stock assessment methodologies
for marine fish species. Also,
individuals who may not necessarily
work directly with sharks, but who are
involved in fisheries with similar life
history, biology and fishery issues may
be part of the SEDAR panel. Members of
the SEDAR Pool must have
demonstrated experience in the
fisheries, related industries, research,
teaching, writing, conservation, or
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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 Atlantic 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.
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.
B. Nomination Procedures for
Appointments to the SEDAR Pool
Member tenure will be for 5 years.
Nominations are sought for terms
beginning early in 2017 and expiring in
2022. Nomination packages should
include:
1. The name, address, phone number,
and email of the applicant or nominee;
2. A description of the applicant’s or
nominee’s interest in Atlantic shark
stock assessments or the Atlantic shark
fishery;
3. A statement of the applicant’s or
nominee’s 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.
C. Meeting Schedule
Individual members of the SEDAR
Pool meet to participate in stock
assessments at the discretion of the
Office of Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS.
Stock assessment timing, frequency, and
relevant species will vary depending on
E:\FR\FM\23AUN1.SGM
23AUN1
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 163 / Tuesday, August 23, 2016 / Notices
the needs determined by NMFS and
SEDAR staff. In 2017, NMFS intends to
update the Gulf of Mexico blacktip
shark stock assessment and conduct a
standard assessment for sandbar sharks.
In 2018, NMFS intends to conduct a
benchmark assessment for 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: August 18, 2016.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–20103 Filed 8–22–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XE812
Pacific Island Fisheries; Aquaculture
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a
Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement; request for comments.
AGENCY:
NMFS, in coordination with
the Western Pacific Fishery
Management Council (Council), intends
to prepare a Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS)
to analyze the potential environmental
impacts of a proposed Pacific Islands
Region (PIR) aquaculture management
program and alternatives. Publication of
this notice begins the official public
scoping process to help identify
alternatives and determine the scope of
environmental issues for consideration
in the PEIS. The PEIS is intended to
support offshore aquaculture
development, including appropriate
management unit species (MUS) for
aquaculture, reasonably foreseeable
types of offshore aquaculture
operations, and permitting and
reporting requirements for persons
conducting aquaculture activities in
Federal waters.
DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section for meeting dates. NMFS must
receive comments by October 31, 2016.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on this action, identified by NOAA–
NMFS–2016–0111, by any of the
following methods:
• Electronic Submission: Submit all
electronic public comments via the
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:56 Aug 22, 2016
Jkt 238001
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
https://www.regulations.gov/
docket?D=NOAA-NMFS-2016-0111,
click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon,
complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
• Mail: Send written comments to
Michael D. Tosatto, Regional
Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands
Region (PIR), 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg.
176, Honolulu, HI 96818.
• Scoping Meeting: Submit written
comments at a scoping meeting held by
NMFS for this action.
Instructions: You must submit
comments by the above methods to
ensure that NMFS receives, documents,
and considers your comments. NMFS
may not consider comments sent by any
other method, to any other address or
individual, or received after the end of
the comment period. NMFS will
consider all comments received as part
of the public record and will generally
post comments for public viewing on
www.regulations.gov without change.
All personal identifying information
(e.g., name, address) submitted
voluntarily by the sender will be
publicly accessible. Do not submit
confidential business information, or
otherwise sensitive or protected
information. NMFS will accept
anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in
the required fields if you wish to remain
anonymous).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Nichols, NMFS, Pacific Islands
Regional Office, (808) 725–5180.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS and
the Council manage fisheries in U.S.
Federal waters in the Pacific Islands
through five fishery ecosystem plans
(FEPs). The Council recommended
amending the five FEPs to establish a
management program for aquaculture
fisheries under the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). NMFS is
working with the Council to develop a
management program that would
regulate and promote environmentally
sound and economically sustainable
aquaculture in Federal waters of the
Pacific Islands Region.
In compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and
consistent with Council
recommendations, the intent of the PEIS
is to evaluate the potential direct,
indirect, and cumulative impacts on the
human environment of the proposed
Federal action that includes alternative
management approaches to
implementing an aquaculture
management program in the PIR. NEPA
requires NMFS to consider the potential
impacts of the proposed action and
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
57567
reasonable alternatives to inform the
selection of a final preferred alternative
for the proposed Pacific Islands
aquaculture management program.
Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act,
NMFS has authority to regulate
commercial fisheries in Federal waters,
including aquaculture. Landings or
possession of fish in the EEZ from the
commercial marine aquaculture
production of any species managed
under an FEP in the PIR constitutes
‘‘fishing’’ as defined in MagnusonStevens Act Section 3(16). Fishing
includes all activities and operations
related to the taking, catching, or
harvesting of fish. The U.S. EEZ in the
Pacific Islands generally consists of
waters from 3 nm to 200 nm around
American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands (CNMI), Baker Island, Howland
Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll,
Kingman Reef, Midway Island, Wake
Island, and Palmyra Atoll and includes
all islands and reefs appurtenant to such
islands, reefs, or atolls.
With the exception of coral reef
ecosystem species, there is no
requirement for Federal permits to
conduct aquaculture for MUS in Federal
waters. The existing regulatory process
is complex and requires multiple
permits from several different Federal
agencies, including the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE), and NMFS.
The preliminary proposed Federal
action will identify areas and species
suitable for offshore aquaculture,
describe the reasonably foreseeable
types of offshore aquaculture
operations, and provide an early
assessment of the potential social,
economic, and environmental impacts
of such proposed activities. Completing
a PEIS for an aquaculture management
program will facilitate the review and
processing of aquaculture fishery
proposals, supporting NEPA reviews for
future projects.
The PEIS will include information
that NMFS would use to understand the
potential effects of managing
aquaculture in compliance with
applicable laws, including the
Magnuson-Stevens Act, Endangered
Species Act (ESA), Marine Mammal
Protection Act (MMPA), the Coastal
Zone Management Act (CZMA), and
other applicable laws. In addition, the
PEIS would allow for intergovernmental
public review and input as NMFS
develops and considers approval of the
management program. The development
and content of the PEIS must also be
consistent with the NOAA
Administrative Orders (NAO) 216–6A as
E:\FR\FM\23AUN1.SGM
23AUN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 163 (Tuesday, August 23, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57565-57567]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20103]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XE794
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.
[[Page 57566]]
ACTION: Notice; nominations for shark stock assessment Advisory Panel.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS solicits nominations for the ``SEDAR Pool,'' also known
as the Advisory Panel for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS)
Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) Workshops. The SEDAR
Pool is comprised of a group of individuals who 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 (2017-2022).
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 September 22, 2016.
ADDRESSES: You may submit nominations and request the SEDAR Pool
Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures by any of the
following methods:
Email: SEDAR.pool@noaa.gov.
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 https://www.sefsc.noaa.gov/sedar/. The terms of reference for
the SEDAR Pool, along with a list of current members, can be found at
https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/SEDAR/SEDAR.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Delisse Ortiz, (240-681-9037) or Karyl
Brewster-Geisz, (301) 425-8503.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
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 304(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 27
individuals, each of whom may 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 Advisory Panels concurrent with, or
following, their service on the SEDAR Pool.
Procedures and Guidelines
A. 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 and/or stock assessment methodologies for
marine fish species. Also, individuals who may not necessarily work
directly with sharks, but who are involved in fisheries with similar
life history, biology and fishery issues may be part of the SEDAR
panel. 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 Atlantic 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.
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.
B. Nomination Procedures for Appointments to the SEDAR Pool
Member tenure will be for 5 years. Nominations are sought for terms
beginning early in 2017 and expiring in 2022. Nomination packages
should include:
1. The name, address, phone number, and email of the applicant or
nominee;
2. A description of the applicant's or nominee's interest in
Atlantic shark stock assessments or the Atlantic shark fishery;
3. A statement of the applicant's or nominee's 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.
C. Meeting Schedule
Individual members of the SEDAR Pool meet to participate in stock
assessments at the discretion of the Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
NMFS. Stock assessment timing, frequency, and relevant species will
vary depending on
[[Page 57567]]
the needs determined by NMFS and SEDAR staff. In 2017, NMFS intends to
update the Gulf of Mexico blacktip shark stock assessment and conduct a
standard assessment for sandbar sharks. In 2018, NMFS intends to
conduct a benchmark assessment for 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: August 18, 2016.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-20103 Filed 8-22-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
