International Pacific Halibut Commission Appointments

Issuing agencies

Abstract

NOAA is soliciting nominations for a resident of Alaska to serve as a United States Commissioner to the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC). This action is necessary to ensure that the interests of the United States and all of its stakeholders in the Pacific halibut fishery are adequately represented. The intended effect of this solicitation is to ensure stakeholder participation in the process of filling a vacant Commissioner position.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 162 (Monday, August 24, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 162 (Monday, August 24, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54700-54701]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17192]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XF956]


International Pacific Halibut Commission Appointments

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notification; call for nominations.

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SUMMARY: NOAA is soliciting nominations for a resident of Alaska to 
serve as a United States Commissioner to the International Pacific 
Halibut Commission (IPHC). This action is necessary to ensure that the 
interests of the United States and all of its stakeholders in the 
Pacific halibut fishery are adequately represented. The intended effect 
of this solicitation is to ensure stakeholder participation in the 
process of filling a vacant Commissioner position.

DATES: Nominations must be received by September 14, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Nominations to be a U.S. Commissioner to the IPHC should be 
made in writing to Doug Duncan, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 
National Marine Fisheries Service Alaska Region, P.O. Box 21668, 
Juneau, AK 99802-1668. Nominations can also be submitted via email to 
the contact listed below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Duncan, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#462229332168223328252728062829272768212930"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2c4843594b024859424f4d426c42434d4d024b435a">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>, 
(907) 266-1158.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The IPHC is a bilateral regional fishery management organization 
established pursuant to the Convention between Canada and the United 
States for the Preservation of the Halibut Fishery of the North Pacific 
Ocean and Bering Sea (Convention). The Convention was signed at Ottawa, 
Ontario, on March 2, 1953, and was amended by a Protocol Amending the 
Convention signed at Washington, DC, on March 29, 1979. The 
Convention's central objective is to develop the stocks of Pacific 
halibut in waters off the west coasts of Canada and the United States 
to levels that will permit the optimum yield from the Pacific halibut 
fishery and to maintain the stocks at those levels. The IPHC fulfills 
this objective in part by recommending Pacific halibut fishery 
conservation and management measures for approval by the United States 
and Canada. Pursuant to the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 
(Halibut Act), the Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the 
Secretary of Commerce, may accept or reject, on behalf of the United 
States, conservation and management measures recommended by the IPHC 
(16 U.S.C. 773b). Measures accepted by the Secretary of State are 
adopted as binding regulations governing fishing for Pacific halibut in 
Convention waters of the United States (16 U.S.C. 773c(b)(1)). More 
information on the IPHC can be found at <a href="https://www.iphc.int">https://www.iphc.int</a>.
    The Halibut Act (16 U.S.C. 773a) requires that the United States be 
represented on the IPHC by three U.S. Commissioners. U.S. Commissioners 
are appointed for a term not to exceed 2 years but are eligible for 
reappointment. Of the Commissioners:
    (1) One shall be a NOAA official; and
    (2) Two shall be knowledgeable or experienced concerning the 
Northern Pacific halibut fishery; of these, one shall be a resident of 
Alaska and the other shall be a nonresident of Alaska.
    Of the three commissioners described in paragraphs (1) and (2), one 
shall be a voting member of the North Pacific Fishery Management 
Council.
    Commissioners who are not Federal employees are not considered to 
be Federal employees except for the purposes of injury compensation or 
tort claims liability as provided in section 8101 et seq. of title 5 
and section 2671 et seq. of title 28.
    In their official IPHC duties, Commissioners represent the 
interests of the United States and all of its stakeholders in the 
Pacific halibut fisheries. These duties require a modest amount of 
travel (typically two or three trips per year lasting less than a 
week), and necessary travel expenses are paid by the U.S. Department of 
State. Commissioners receive no compensation for their services.

Nomination Process

    The U.S. Department of Commerce is currently accepting nominations 
for Alaska residents who are not NOAA officials and who meet the 
criteria in the

[[Page 54701]]

Halibut Act to fill a vacant Commissioner position and be a U.S. 
Commissioner for the IPHC. Successful nominees will be considered for 
appointment by the President and (pending Presidential action) interim 
designation by the Department of State.
    Nomination packages should provide details of an individual's 
knowledge and experience in the Pacific halibut fishery. Examples of 
such knowledge and/or experience could include (but are not limited to) 
such activities as: participation in commercial, tribal, Community 
Development Quota, subsistence, and/or sport and charter boat halibut 
fishing operations; participation in halibut processing operations; and 
participation in Pacific halibut management activities. Although 
nominees do not need to have connections to any particular sector or 
interest in the Pacific halibut fishery, the Department of Commerce 
seeks to maintain a balance in background among U.S. Commissioners to 
IPHC to ensure that the interests of commercial, recreational, charter, 
subsistence, and other users are well represented.
    Nomination packages must include a resume that documents an 
individual's qualifications and State of residence. Self-nominations 
are acceptable, and former IPHC Commissioners are eligible for 
reappointment. Letters of recommendation are useful but not required. 
Nomination packages will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by 
officials in the Department of Commerce who are familiar with the 
duties and responsibilities of IPHC Commissioners. Evaluations will 
consider the extent of an individual's experience and knowledge of the 
Pacific halibut fishery, residency requirements, and any letters of 
recommendation provided.

    Dated: August 19, 2026.
Alexa Cole,
Director, Office of International Affairs, Trade, and Commerce, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-17192 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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