Department of Commerce September 12, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council was tasked by Congress, together with the New England Fishery Management Council, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, to incorporate ecosystem considerations into their fisheries management processes. The purpose of this ecosystem initiative mandated by Congress is to engage the four Councils and their constituencies in public debate on the establishment of ecosystem goals, the inclusion of the types of considerations to be addressed in ecosystem management, and the identification of issues not covered under existing authorities.

The Groundfish Stock Assessment Review (STAR) Panel for lingcod, the northern portion of the West Coast petrale sole stock, and rebuilding analyses for seven overfished West Coast rockfish stocks will hold a work session which is open to the public.

The Oceans and Human Health Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-447) created a national, interagency research program to improve understanding of the role of the oceans in human health. Section 903(a) of this Act authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to establish an Oceans and Human Health Initiative (OHHI) to coordinate and implement research and activities of NOAA related to the role of the oceans, the coasts, and the Great Lakes in human health. The OHHI is further authorized to provide support for (1) Centralized program and research coordination, (2) an advisory panel, (3) one or more NOAA national centers of excellence, (4) research grants, and (5) distinguished scholars and traineeships. Section 903(b) of the OHH Act further authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to establish an oceans and human health advisory panel to assist in the development and implementation of the NOAA OHHI. This advisory panel is to provide for balanced representation of individuals with multi-disciplinary expertise in the marine and biomedical sciences and is not subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). Nominations to the OHHI advisory panel are being solicited herein. The intent is to select from the nominees. However, NOAA retains the prerogative to name people to the advisory panel who were not nominated if it deems it necessary to achieve the desired balance. Once selected, NOAA will post the review panel, with abridged resumes, at https:// oceanservice.noaa.gov/aaoffice/OHHI/.