§7702 United States Participation in the North Pacific Fisheries Convention

Summary

Five people will speak for the United States on the Commission. Two are chosen by the President and must be from the Department of Commerce, the Department of State, or the Coast Guard. The President must pick people who know about North Pacific fisheries. The other three are the chairs (or their designees) of the North Pacific, Pacific, and Western Pacific Fishery Management Councils. If a presidential appointee’s spot is empty, the Secretary of State, after talking with the Secretary, can name an alternate who can act with full authority and serve the rest of the term. Commissioners do not get paid for their service. Those who are not federal employees are not made federal employees by serving, except for injury compensation and tort claims. The Secretary of State will pay necessary travel costs, and the Secretary may repay the Secretary of State for those costs. An 11-member advisory committee is created and the Secretary appoints its members. The group includes commercial fishing representatives from the three regional council areas, three indigenous members from the North Pacific region (such as an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian and a Pacific Coast tribe member), a marine fisheries scientist from an adjacent state, and nominees from the Governors of Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, and California. Members serve two-year terms and may be reappointed but not for more than three consecutive terms. The committee must be told about and attend Commission meetings and may review and speak on proposed programs and rules. It sets its own procedures, must publish them, uses a majority for a quorum, holds public meetings except for closed sessions, and should use teleconferencing when practical. The Secretary provides support. Advisory members are unpaid, generally not federal employees except for injury compensation and tort claims, and the Secretary of State may pay their travel with possible reimbursement by the Secretary.