{"id":450,"date":"2012-02-17T16:18:23","date_gmt":"2012-02-18T02:18:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ahamoku.org\/?page_id=450"},"modified":"2012-06-14T14:54:31","modified_gmt":"2012-06-15T00:54:31","slug":"advisory-panel","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ahamoku.org\/index.php\/advisory-panel\/","title":{"rendered":"FEP Advisory Panel"},"content":{"rendered":"

Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fishery Ecosystem Plan Advisory Panels<\/strong><\/p>\n

*Joint Advisory-Panel Meeting, June 25-28, 2012 (See below for more details)
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About the Advisory Panel<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) established the Advisory Panels under section 302(g).\u00a0 The Advisory Panels were established to assist in carrying out the functions of the MSA.\u00a0 In 2009, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (Council) moved towards an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management, developing archipelagic Fishery Ecosystem Plans (FEPs).\u00a0 Along with the reorganization of existing rules and regulations in the former Fishery Management Plans (FMP) came a restructuring of the Advisory Panel by archipelago, developing FEP Advisory Panels.<\/p>\n

The FEP Advisory Panel advises the Council on fishery management issues, provides input to the Council regarding fishery management planning efforts, and advises the Council on the content and likely effects of management plans, amendments, and management measures.<\/p>\n

The Advisory Panel consists of four sub-panels. In general, each Advisory Sub-panel includes two representatives from the area\u2019s commercial, recreational, and subsistence fisheries, as well as two additional members (fishermen or other interested parties) who are knowledgeable about the area\u2019s ecosystems and habitat. The exception is the Mariana FEP Sub-panel, which has four representatives from each group to represent the combined areas of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. The Hawaii FEP Sub-panel addresses issues pertaining to demersal fishing in the PRIA due to the lack of a permanent population and because such PRIA fishing has primarily originated in Hawaii. The FEP Advisory Panel meets at the direction of the Council to provide continuing and detailed participation by members representing various fishery sectors and the general public. FEP Advisory Panel members are representatives from various fishery sectors that are selected by the Council and serve four-year terms.<\/p>\n

Duties and Responsibilities of the Advisory Panel<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The main duty of the Advisory Panel is to be the eyes and ears in the community.\u00a0 Members of the Advisory Panel should be able to provide the Council with the issues and concerns of the community relating to fishery ecosystem issues AND be able to provide the community with outreach and education on the Council and the work it is doing.<\/p>\n

The AP should provide their community with information from the Council regarding fishery issues, grants and training opportunities, educational and outreach material, etc.\u00a0 The AP should also talk with the fishermen and community members about their issues and represent their community at AP meetings.<\/p>\n

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Providing Testimony and other Expertise<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Advisory Panel Members do not represent the Council unless authorized by the Council.\u00a0 Members may choose to provide testimonies, public comments, expertise, etc to other groups and may note their membership, but must do so as a private citizen unless otherwise approved by the Council.<\/p>\n

Other responsibilities of the AP<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Advisory Panel Members are responsible for:<\/p>\n

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  1. Meeting prior to the scheduled Advisory Panel Meetings to develop a list of issues to be discussed at the AP Meeting;<\/li>\n
  2. Participate in the scheduled AP Meetings and attend\/participate in other Council family meetings , to the extent possible;<\/li>\n
  3. Provide Council staff with list of events and meetings happening in their area where the Council may participate or provide assistance\/expertise;<\/li>\n
  4. Provide Council staff comments on documents and other materials when requested for submission as Council comments;<\/li>\n
  5. Communicate the communities concerns regarding fisheries and ecosystems to the Council\u00a0 through the AP meetings;<\/li>\n
  6. Provide the community with information on fisheries and ecosystem developed or passed along by the Council;<\/li>\n
  7. Keep up to date on the local, national, regional, and international issues in fisheries and ecosystems;<\/li>\n
  8. Be available to provide presentations or participate in other meetings in their community, other areas in the nation or the region as requested;<\/li>\n
  9. Constantly communicate with other members of the AP and Council staff to maintain dialogue on issues;<\/li>\n
  10. Work with Council staff to develop solutions to issues and gather the community input on these solutions.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    What else should the AP be doing?<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    The AP can also help Council staff by:<\/p>\n