[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 192 (Thursday, October 3, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80543-80544]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-22661]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XE288]
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Highly Migratory
Species Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review Workshops Advisory Panel
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; nominations for shark stock assessment advisory panel.
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SUMMARY: NMFS solicits nominations for the Atlantic Highly Migratory
Species (HMS) Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) Workshops
Advisory Panel, also known as the ``SEDAR Pool.'' The SEDAR Pool is
comprised of a group of individuals who, if selected review data and
advise NMFS on the scientific information, data, and models used in
stock assessments for oceanic sharks in the Atlantic Ocean, including
the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. NMFS is seeking nominations for
5-year appointments (2025-2030). 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 SEDAR Pool.
DATES: Submit nominations on or before November 4, 2024.
ADDRESSES: You may submit nominations and request the SEDAR Pool
Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures electronically via
email to [email protected].
Additional information on SEDAR and the SEDAR guidelines can be
found at http://sedarweb.org/. The terms of reference for the SEDAR
Pool, along with a list of current members, can be found at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/atlantic-highly-migratory-species/southeast-data-assessment-and-review-and-atlantic-highly.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karyl Brewster-Geisz or Delisse Ortiz
at 301-427-8503.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: HMS fisheries (tunas, billfish, swordfish,
and sharks) are managed under the 2006 Consolidated HMS Fishery
Management Plan (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.
Background
NMFS established the SEDAR Pool consistent with section 302(g) of
the Magnuson-Stevens Act. NMFS may select individuals of the SEDAR Pool
to review and advise NMFS on the scientific information, data, and
models used in stock assessments for oceanic sharks in the Atlantic
Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. While NMFS
created the SEDAR Pool specifically for consultation on Atlantic shark
stock assessments, NMFS may expand consultation to other HMS, as
needed.
NMFS may select individuals in the SEDAR Pool to participate in the
various data and assessment workshops during the stock assessment
process. The primary responsibility of selected individuals is to
review and provide advice regarding the scientific information, data,
and models that NMFS will use or consider for use in the relevant 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 cannot serve as a peer reviewer 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 or
committees established under section 302(g) concurrent with, or
following, their service on the SEDAR Pool.
Procedures and Guidelines
A. Participants
The SEDAR Pool is comprised of individuals that represent 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 with sharks and/or stock assessment methodologies for marine
fish species. Additionally, 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
Pool. 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 the 5 Atlantic Regional Fishery Management
Councils, the 18 Atlantic states, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto
Rico, and the relevant interstate commissions (Atlantic States Marine
Fisheries Commission and 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.
SEDAR Pool members serve at the discretion of the Secretary. Not
all members will attend each SEDAR workshop. Rather, NMFS will invite
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certain members to participate at specific stock assessment workshops
dependent on their ability to participate, discuss, and offer
scientific input and advice 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 is 5 years. Nominations are sought for terms
beginning early in 2025 and expiring in 2030. 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 the needs determined by NMFS and SEDAR staff. NMFS is
currently assessing the status of the hammerhead shark species in the
hammerhead shark management group (scalloped and Carolina hammerhead,
smooth hammerhead, and great hammerhead). SEDAR released the final
research assessment in February 2024 and NMFS expects to complete the
operational assessment, which will provide the final stock assessment
results and management advice, in late 2024. Beginning in 2025,
following the completion of the hammerhead stock assessments, NMFS
plans to assess the sandbar shark stock. Once the sandbar shark
assessment is complete, NMFS plans to assess the bull shark stock
starting at some point in 2026. All meetings are open for observation
by the public.
Dated: September 26, 2024.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-22661 Filed 10-2-24; 8:45 am]
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