The United States shall be represented on the Commission by not more than 3 Commissioners. In making each appointment, the President shall select a Commissioner from among individuals who are knowledgeable or experienced concerning fishery resources in the South Pacific Ocean.
At least 1 of the Commissioners shall be-
The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary, may designate from time to time and for periods of time considered appropriate an alternate Commissioner to the Commission. An alternate Commissioner may exercise all powers and duties of a Commissioner in the absence of a Commissioner appointed under subsection (a).
An individual serving as a Commissioner, or as an alternate Commissioner, other than an officer or employee of the United States Government, shall not be considered a Federal employee, except for the purposes of injury compensation or tort claims liability as provided in chapter 81 of title 5 and chapter 171 of title 28.
An individual serving as a Commissioner or an alternate Commissioner, although an officer of the United States while so serving, shall receive no compensation for the individual's services as such Commissioner or alternate Commissioner.
The Secretary of State shall pay the necessary travel expenses of a Commissioner or an alternate Commissioner in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations and sections 5701, 5702, 5704 through 5708, and 5731 of title 5.
The Secretary may reimburse the Secretary of State for amounts expended by the Secretary of State under this paragraph.
There is established an advisory committee which shall be composed of 7 members appointed by the Secretary as follows:
Each member of the Advisory Committee shall serve for a term of 2 years and shall be eligible for reappointment for not more than 3 consecutive terms. The Commissioners shall notify the Advisory Committee in advance of each meeting of the Commissioners. The Advisory Committee may attend each meeting and may examine and be heard on all proposed programs, investigations, reports, recommendations, and regulations of the Commissioners.
The Advisory Committee shall determine its organization and prescribe its practices and procedures for carrying out its functions under this chapter, the South Pacific Fisheries Convention, and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).
The Advisory Committee shall publish and make available to the public a statement of its organization, practices, and procedures.
A majority of the members of the Advisory Committee shall constitute a quorum to conduct business.
Meetings of the Advisory Committee, except when in executive session, shall be open to the public. Prior notice of each non-executive meeting shall be made public in a timely fashion. The Advisory Committee shall not be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).1
In order to reduce the cost of Advisory Committee meetings, the Advisory Committee shall, to the extent practicable, utilize teleconferences and webinars for that purpose.
The Secretary and the Secretary of State shall furnish the Advisory Committee with relevant information concerning fishery resources and international fishery agreements.
The Secretary shall provide to the Advisory Committee in a timely manner such administrative and technical support services as are necessary to function effectively.
An individual appointed to serve as a member of the Advisory Committee-
1 See References in Text note below.
16 U.S.C. § 7802
EDITORIAL NOTES
REFERENCES IN TEXTThe Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, referred to in subsec. (d)(1)(C)(i), is Pub. L. 94-265, Apr. 13, 1976, 90 Stat. 331, which is classified principally to chapter 38 (§1801 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1801 of this title and Tables.The Federal Advisory Committee Act, referred to in subsec. (d)(1)(C)(iv), is Pub. L. 92-463, Oct. 6, 1972, 86 Stat. 770, which was set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, and was substantially repealed and restated in chapter 10 (§1001 et seq.) of Title 5 by Pub. L. 117-286, §§3(a), Dec. 27, 2022, 7, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4197, 4361. For disposition of sections of the Act into chapter 10 of Title 5, see Disposition Table preceding section 101 of Title 5.
- Commission
- The term "Commission" means the Commission of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization established in accordance with the South Pacific Fishery Resources Convention.
- Council
- The term "Council" means the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council.
- Secretary
- The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Commerce.
- State
- The term "State" means each of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and any other commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.
- fishery resources
- The term "fishery resources" means all fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and other marine species, and any products thereof, caught by a fishing vessel within the Convention Area, but excluding-(A) sedentary species insofar as they are subject to the national jurisdiction of coastal States pursuant to Article 77 paragraph 4 of the 1982 Convention;(B) highly migratory species listed in Annex I of the 1982 Convention;(C) anadromous and catadromous species; and(D) marine mammals, marine reptiles and sea birds.