Request for Nominations for the General Advisory Committee and the Scientific Advisory Subcommittee to the United States Section to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission

SUMMARY:

The Department of State is seeking applications and nominations for the renewal of the General Advisory Committee to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) as well as to a Scientific Advisory Subcommittee of the General Advisory Committee. The purpose of the General Advisory Committee and the Scientific Advisory Subcommittee is to provide public input and advice to the United States Section to the IATTC in the formulation of U.S. policy and positions at meetings of the IATTC and its subsidiary bodies. The Scientific Advisory Subcommittee shall also function as the National Scientific Advisory Committee (NATSAC) provided for in the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Program (AIDCP). The United States Section to the IATTC is composed of the Commissioners to the IATTC, appointed by the President, and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and Fisheries or his or her designated representative. Authority to establish the General Advisory Committee and Scientific Advisory Subcommittee is provided under the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950, as amended by the International Dolphin Conservation Program Act (IDCPA) of 1997.

DATES:

Nominations must be submitted on or before March 31, 2006.

ADDRESSES:

Nominations should be submitted to David Balton, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Room 7831, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520-7818; or by fax to 202-736-7350.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

David Hogan, Office of Marine Conservation, Department of State: 202-647-2335.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

General Advisory Committee

The Tuna Conventions Act (16 U.S.C. 951 et seq.), as amended by the IDCPA (Pub. L. 105-42), provides that the Secretary of State, in consultation with the U.S. Commissioners to the IATTC, shall appoint a General Advisory Committee (the Committee) to the U.S. Section to the IATTC (U.S. Section). The Committee shall be composed of not less than 5 nor more than 15 persons, with balanced representation from the various groups participating in the fisheries included under the IATTC Convention, and from non-governmental conservation organizations. Members of the Committee shall be invited to have representatives attend all non-executive meetings of the U.S. Section, and shall be given full opportunity to examine and to be heard on all proposed programs of investigations, reports, recommendations, and regulations adopted by the Commission. Members of the Committee may attend meetings of the IATTC and the AIDCP as members of the U.S. delegation or otherwise in accordance with the rules of those bodies governing such participation. Participation as a member of the U.S. delegation shall be subject to such conditions as may be placed on the size or composition of the delegation.

Scientific Advisory Subcommittee

The Act, as amended, also provides that the Secretary of State, in consultation with the U.S. Commissioners to the IATTC, shall appoint a Scientific Advisory Subcommittee (the Subcommittee) of the General Advisory Committee. The Subcommittee shall be composed of not less than 5 and not more than 15 qualified scientists with balanced representation from the public and private sectors, including non-governmental conservation organizations. The Subcommittee shall advise the Committee and the U.S. Section on matters including: The conservation of ecosystems; the sustainable uses of living marine resources related to the tuna fishery in the eastern Pacific Ocean; and the long-term conservation and management of stocks of living marine resources in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.

In addition, at the request of the Committee, the U.S. Commissioners or the Secretary of State, the Subcommittee shall perform such functions and provide such assistance as may be required by formal agreements entered into by the United States for the eastern Pacific tuna fishery, including the AIDCP. The functions may include: The review of data from the International Dolphin Conservation Program (IDCP), including data received from the IATTC staff; recommendations on research needs and the coordination and facilitation of such research; recommendations on scientific reviews and assessments required under the IDCP; recommendations with respect to measures to assure the regular and timely full exchange of data among the Parties to the AIDCP and each nation's NATSAC (or its equivalent); and consulting with other experts as needed.

The Subcommittee shall be invited to have representatives attend all non-executive meetings of the U.S. Section and the General Advisory Committee and shall be given full opportunity to examine and to be heard on all proposed programs of scientific investigation, scientific reports, and scientific recommendations of the Commission. Representatives of the Subcommittee may attend meetings of the IATTC and the AIDCP as members of the U.S. delegation or otherwise in accordance with the rules of those bodies governing such participation. Participation as a member of the U.S. delegation shall be subject to such limits as may be placed on the size of the delegation.

National Scientific Advisory Committee

The Scientific Advisory Subcommittee shall also function as the NATSAC established pursuant to Article IX of the AIDCP. In this regard, the Subcommittee shall perform the functions of the NATSAC as specified in Annex VI of the AIDCP including, but not limited to: Receiving and reviewing relevant data, including data provided to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) by the IATTC Staff; advising and recommending to the U.S. Government measures and actions that should be undertaken to conserve and manage stocks of living marine resources in the AIDCP Area; making recommendations to the U.S. Government regarding research needs related to the eastern Pacific Ocean tuna purse seine fishery; promoting the regular and timely full exchange of data among the Parties on a variety of matters related to the implementation of the AIDCP; and consulting with other experts as necessary in order to achieve the objectives of the Agreement.

General Provisions

Each appointed member of the Committee and the Subcommittee/NATSAC shall be appointed for a term of 3 years and may be reappointed.

Logistical and administrative support for the operation of the Committee and the Subcommittee will be provided by the Department of State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, and by the Department of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service. Members shall receive no compensation for their service on either the Committee or the Subcommittee/NATSAC, nor will members be compensated for travel or other expenses associated with their participation.

Procedures for Submitting Applications/Nominations

Applications/nominations for the General Advisory Committee and the Scientific Advisory Subcommittee/NATSAC should be submitted to the Department of State (See ADDRESSES). Such applications/nominations should include the following information:

(1) Full name/address/phone/fax and e-mail of applicant/nominee;

(2) Whether applying/nominating for the General Advisory Committee or the Scientific Advisory Committee/NATSAC (applicants may specify both);

(3) Applicant/nominee's organization or professional affiliation serving as the basis for the application/nomination;

(4) Background statement describing the applicant/nominee's qualifications and experience, especially as related to the tuna purse seine fishery in the eastern Pacific Ocean or other factors relevant to the implementation of the Convention Establishing the IATTC or the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Program;

(5) A written statement from the applicant/nominee of intent to participate actively and in good faith in the meetings and activities of the General Advisory Committee and/or the Scientific Advisory Subcommittee/NATSAC.

Applicants/nominees who submitted material in response to the Federal Register Notice published by the National Marine Fisheries Service on November 12, 2002 or February 5, 2003, should resubmit their applications pursuant to this notice.