NOAA Seeks Nominations for Appointments to Two IPHC Commissioner Seats

NOAA is soliciting nominations for two individuals to serve as United States Commissioners to the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC). According to a NOAA press release, two U.S. Commission seats will expire in March 2012.

Established by the international convention in 1923, the IPHC oversees research and management of halibut in U.S. and Canadian convention waters.

U.S. representation consists of three Commissioners appointed by the President of the United States to represent the interests of the United States and all of its stakeholders in the Pacific halibut fishery.

The three U.S. Commissioners are described in the Northern Pacific Halibut Act as:
(1) One shall be an official of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
and
(2) Two shall be knowledgeable or experienced concerning the Northern Pacific halibut fishery; of these two, one shall be a resident of Alaska and the other shall be a non-resident of Alaska.

Of the three Commissioners, one shall be a voting member of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

U.S. Commissioners are appointed for a term not to exceed 2 years, but are eligible for reappointment.

Public solicitation for nominations was published in the Federal Register and can be found at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-02-16/pdf/2012-3697.pdf (or click on the title of this blog post).

Nominations are due by March 19, 2012

This action is necessary to ensure that the interests of the United States and its stakeholders in the Pacific halibut fishery are adequately represented. The intended effect of this action is to improve transparency and stakeholder participation in the nomination process.

Nominations for U.S. Commissioners to the IPHC should be made in writing to:

Patrick E. Moran
Office of International Affairs
National Marine Fisheries Service
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910

Nominations can also be sent via fax to 301-713-2313 or by email:
Pat.Moran@noaa.gov

For more information, contact Patrick E. Moran at (301) 427-8370.