December 11, 2012 — The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) is soliciting applications for seats currently available on several of its advisory panels. Panel members provide information and guidance to specific oversight committees and recommendations to the Council during the development of federal fishery management plans or plan amendments. Advisors also may be asked to assist in addressing a special issue or problem.
Currently, the Council invites applicants to fill vacant seats on its Groundfish, Recreational Fishing, Monkfish, Sea Scallop, Herring and Enforcement Panels.
Anyone interested in serving as an advisor to one or more of these panels may download the application materials; call the Council office at 978.465.0492. If you have any questions or need more specific information about panel responsibilities or upcoming Council actions during 2013, please contact Pat Fiorelli at 978.465.0492, ext. 106 or pfiorelli@nefmc.org.
Please note this solicitation applies only to vacancies on various panels at this time. Unless you have already notified the Council, current advisors are still in place through the 2011-2013 term. A new notice for the next three-year appointment term, 2014-2016, will be distributed to all interested parties at a future date.
Paper copies should be addressed to the attention of the Executive Director, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. If using a fax, please send the applications to 978.465.3116 or email electronic copies to Karen Roy at kroy@nefmc.org.
Completed applications must be submitted to the Council office no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 16, 2013.
The Council’s policy on Advisory Panels limits membership to a maximum of 15 individuals. The current vacancies are as follows:
Groundfish Advisory Panel, (1) open seat
Recreational Fishing Advisory Panel, (2) open seats
Monkfish Advisory Panel, (2) open seats
Sea Scallop Advisory Panel, (2) open seats
Herring Advisory Panel, (1) open seat
Enforcement Advisory Panel, (7) open seats
Each oversight committee will review any applications received and forward their recommendations to the Council’s Executive Committee. The Executive Committee has the responsibility for final approval of NEFMC advisory panel members. All nominees are subject to an additional level of review by NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement and may be declined because of a marine resource violation.