Notice2026-11278
Nominations to the Marine Mammal Scientific Review Groups
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 5, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
As required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the Secretary of Commerce established three independent regional scientific review groups (SRGs) to provide advice on a range of marine mammal science issues. NMFS conducted a membership review of the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific SRGs, and is soliciting nominations for new members to fill vacancies.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 108 (Friday, June 5, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 108 (Friday, June 5, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34226-34227]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-11278]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XF788]
Nominations to the Marine Mammal Scientific Review Groups
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for nominations.
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SUMMARY: As required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the
Secretary of Commerce established three independent regional scientific
review groups (SRGs) to provide advice on a range of marine mammal
science issues. NMFS conducted a membership review of the Alaska,
Atlantic, and Pacific SRGs, and is soliciting nominations for new
members to fill vacancies.
DATES: Nominations must be received July 6, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Nominations can be emailed to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d882b9bbb0b9aaa1f68bbbb0b9b3b6bdaa98b6b7b9b9f6bfb7ae"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9ec4fffdf6ffece7b0cdfdf6fff5f0fbecdef0f1ffffb0f9f1e8">[email protected]</span></a>,
Assessment Branch, Office of Science and Technology, National Marine
Fisheries Service, Attn: SRGs. Information about the SRGs, including
the SRG Terms of Reference, is available at <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/scientific-review-groups">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/scientific-review-groups</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Zachary Schakner, Office of
Science and Technology, 301-427-8106, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cc96adafa4adbeb5e29fafa4ada7a2a9be8ca2a3adade2aba3ba"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="520833313a33202b7c01313a33393c3720123c3d33337c353d24">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 117(d) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C.
1386(d)) directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish three
independent regional SRGs to advise the Secretary (authority delegated
to NMFS). The Alaska SRG advises on marine mammals that occur in waters
off Alaska that are under the jurisdiction of the United States. The
Pacific SRG advises on marine mammals that occur in waters off the U.S.
West Coast, Hawaiian Islands, and the U.S. Territories in the Central
and Western Pacific that are under the jurisdiction of the United
States. The Atlantic SRG advises on marine mammals that occur in waters
off the Atlantic coast, Gulf of Mexico, and U.S. Territories in the
Caribbean.
SRG members are highly qualified individuals with expertise in
marine mammal biology and ecology, population dynamics and modeling,
commercial fishing technology and practices, and stocks taken under
section 101(b) of the MMPA. The SRGs provide expert reviews of draft
marine mammal stock assessment reports and other information related to
the matters identified in section 117(d)(1) of the MMPA, including:
A. Population estimates and the population status and trends of
marine mammal stocks;
B. Uncertainties and research needed regarding stock separation,
abundance, or trends, and factors affecting the distribution, size, or
productivity of the stock;
C. Uncertainties and research needed regarding the species, number,
ages, gender, and reproductive status of marine mammals;
D. Research needed to identify modifications in fishing gear and
practices likely to reduce the incidental mortality and serious injury
of marine mammals in commercial fishing operations;
E. The actual, expected, or potential impacts of habitat
destruction, including marine pollution and natural environmental
change, on specific marine mammal species or stocks, and for strategic
stocks, appropriate conservation or management measures to alleviate
any such impacts; and
F. Any other issue which the Secretary or the groups consider
appropriate.
SRG members collectively serve as independent advisors to NMFS and
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and provide their expert review and
recommendations through participation in the SRG. Members attend annual
meetings and undertake activities as independent persons providing
expertise in their subject areas. Members are not appointed as
representatives of professional organizations or particular stakeholder
groups, including government entities, and are not permitted to
represent or advocate for those organizations, groups, or entities
during SRG meetings, discussions, and deliberations.
SRG membership is voluntary, and, except for reimbursable travel
and related expenses, service is without pay. The term of service for
SRG members is 3 years, and members may serve up to three consecutive
terms if reappointed.
NMFS annually reviews the expertise available on the SRG and
identifies gaps in the expertise that is needed to provide advice
pursuant to section 117(d) of the MMPA. In conducting the reviews, NMFS
attempts to achieve, to the maximum extent practicable, a balanced
representation of viewpoints among the individuals on each SRG.
Submitting a Nomination
Nominations for new members should be sent to Dr. Zachary Schakner
in the NMFS Office of Science & Technology (see ADDRESSES) and must be
received by July 6, 2026. Nominations should be accompanied by the
individual's curriculum vitae and detailed information regarding how
the recommended person meets the minimum selection criteria for SRG
members (see below). Nominations should also include the nominee's
name, address, telephone number, and email address. Self-nominations
are acceptable.
Selection Criteria
Although the MMPA does not explicitly prohibit Federal employees
from serving as SRG members, NMFS interprets MMPA section 117(d)'s
reference to the SRGs as ``independent'' bodies that are exempt from
Federal Advisory Committee Act requirements to mean that SRGs are
intended to augment existing Federal expertise and are not composed of
Federal employees or contractors.
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When reviewing nominations, NMFS, in consultation with the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, will consider the following six criteria:
(1) Ability to make time available for the purposes of the SRG;
(2) Knowledge of the species (or closely related species) of marine
mammals in the SRG's region;
(3) Scientific or technical achievement in a relevant discipline,
particularly the areas of expertise identified above, and the ability
to serve as an expert peer reviewer for the topic;
(4) Demonstrated experience working effectively on teams;
(5) Expertise relevant to current and expected needs of the SRG, in
particular, expertise required to provide adequate review and
knowledgeable feedback on current or developing stock assessment
issues, techniques, etc. In practice, this means that each member
should have expertise in more than one topic as the species and
scientific issues discussed in SRG meetings are diverse; and
(6) No conflict of interest with respect to their duties as a
member of the SRG.
Next Steps
Following review, nominees who are identified by NMFS as potential
new members must be vetted and cleared in accordance with Department of
Commerce policy. NMFS will contact these individuals and ask them to
provide written confirmation that they are not registered Federal
lobbyists or registered foreign agents, and to complete a confidential
financial disclosure form. All nominees will be notified of a selection
decision in advance of the 2027 SRG meetings.
Dated: June 2, 2026.
Howard Townsend,
Acting Director, Office of Science and Technology, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-11278 Filed 6-4-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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