Regulatory Services
Regional Fishery Management Councils - Appointment Process
There are eight RFMCs which have existed since 1976: New England, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific, North Pacific, and the Western Pacific Fishery Management Councils. In accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) is required to appoint the voting obligatory and at-large members to the RFMCs. Members of each RFMC required to be appointed by the Secretary must be individuals who, by reason of their occupational or other experience, scientific expertise, or training, are knowledgeable regarding the conservation management, or the commercial or recreational harvest, of fishery resources of the RFMCs' geographical areas.
Terms expire annually on August 10 for approximately one-third of the 72 obligatory and at-large members. On behalf of the Secretary the NMFS Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (A/AF) is charged with soliciting the gubernatorial nominations and facilitating the annual appointments process. The annual solicitation for gubernatorial nominations is initiated around the middle of January; completed gubernatorial nominations are required to be submitted to the A/AF by March 15, and the Secretary announces the selections by approximately June 27. New members take their seats on August 11.
2007 Report to Congress on Financial Interest and Recusal Requirements
2008 Appointments To The Regional Fishery Management Councils
2007 REPORT TO CONGRESS ON APPORTIONMENT OF MEMBERSHIP ON THE REGIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCILS
- Report to Congress - 2007
Sec. 302. Regional Fishery Management Councils. 16 U.S.C. 1852 (Magnuson-Stevens Act)
Council Training and Council Coordination Committee
