NEWS: Nominations sought for open positions on the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee -- accepted through February 6, 2017.    

(Dec. 23, 2017)  NOAA Fisheries is seeking nominations to fill vacancies on the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC) coming next spring due to term limits.  MAFAC advises the Secretary of Commerce on all living marine resource matters that are the responsibility of the Department of Commerce.  The Committee draws on its members’ expertise and other sources to evaluate and make recommendations to the Secretary and NOAA on the development and implementation of Department regulations, policies, and programs critical to the mission and goals of the NOAA Fisheries Service. 

MAFAC members represent a wide spectrum of fisheries, protected resources, marine habitat, environmental, academic, tribal, seafood, consumer, and other related national interests. Membership is balanced geographically, ethnically, and on the basis of gender, in addition to the range of expertise and interests listed.  Nominees should possess demonstrable expertise in one of these fields and be able to fulfill the time commitments required for two annual meetings and between-meeting subcommittee work.  Individuals serve for a term of three years for no more than two consecutive terms, if re-appointed. 

A MAFAC member cannot be a Federal employee, a member of a Regional Fishery Management Council, a registered Federal lobbyist, or a State employee.  Membership is voluntary, and except for reimbursable travel and related expenses, service is without pay.  The committee functions solely as an advisory body (complying fully with the Federal Advisory Committee Act) which reports to the Secretary.

Full nomination instructions and guidelines are detailed in the Federal Register notice. 

For more information please contact Heidi Lovett, heidi.lovett@noaa.gov.

NEWS: Announcing Appointments to the new Columbia Basin Partnership Task Force

(December 2, 2016)  The Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC) and NOAA Fisheries are pleased to announce the establishment of the new Columbia Basin Partnership Task Force (CBP Task Force), a special task force organized under MAFAC.  Today, we are formally inviting 20 individuals who represent a variety of regional stakeholder interests to serve alongside Columbia Basin sovereigns as part of this important partnership.  Read More.......

The Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC) was established under a federal charter by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) on February 17, 1971, to advise the Secretary of Commerce on all living marine resource matters that are the responsibility of the Department of Commerce. MAFAC members draw on their expertise and other appropriate sources, such as the National Marine Fisheries Service, to assist in: setting national living marine resources policies; developing and implementing Departmental initiatives and programs; evaluating and recommending needed changes during reauthorization processes for the Magnuson-Stevens, the Endangered Species, and the Marine Mammal Protection Acts; and assessing other areas of primary interest to the Secretary and relevant to the mission and goals of the NOAA Fisheries Service.  The members represent a wide spectrum of fisheries, habitat, and protected resource interests,as well as environmental, academic, State, Tribal, consumer, and other related national interests.

MAFAC advice is derived from public deliberations of the Committee and is typically conveyed in meeting summaries, written findings and recommendations, and formal reports transmitted to NMFS, NOAA and the Department.  Issues for Committee deliberation are derived from matters that the Secretary, or his designee, brings to the Committee, and those topics affecting living marine resource stewardship that are of growing concern identified by the Committee. The Committee functions solely as an advisory body (complying fully with the Federal Advisory Committee Act) and is available to the Secretary on an ongoing basis as a source of expertise to be consulted in the development of fisheries policy, and generally meets twice a year.

For more information please contact: Executive Director, MAFAC.

NEWS Archive

October 26, 2016 - MAFAC Launches Survey to Assess Climate Information Needs of Stakeholders

July 22, 2016 - Nominations sought for the new Columbia Basin Partnership Task Force of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee.  Applications accepted through September 6, 2016.

April 21, 2016 - Secretary of Commerce Appoints New Committee Member to NOAA’s Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee

November 12, 2015 - Secretary of Commerce Appoints Four New Committee Members to NOAA’s Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee
 

June 4, 2015 - Nominations sought for open positions on the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee.   Nominations accepted through July 20, 2015. 

January 26, 2015 - Announcing Appointments to MAFAC's NEW Climate and Marine Resources Task Force and Aquaculture Task Force 

October 20, 2014 - Secretary of Commerce Appoints Four New Committee Members to NOAA’s Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee

October 16, 2014 - Nominations sought for two new Task Forces of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee. Applications accepted through November 17, 2014.

May 2014 - Nominations sought for open positions on the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee. Nominations accepted through July 7, 2014.

May 2014 - NOAA Announces 17 Appointments to the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee's Recreational Fisheries Working Group

March 2014 - MAFAC Seafood Certification Recommendations -Open for Public Comment

April 2013- New MAFAC Member from Hawaii Appointed

February 2013 - NOAA Announces 9 New Appointments to the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee's Recreational Fisheries Working Group     

January 2013 - MAFAC Seeking to Fill One Vacancy

August 2012 - Secretary of Commerce Appoints Two New Committee Members to NOAA’s Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee; Reappoints Four Members

March 2012 - Secretary of Commerce Appoints 7 New Advisors to NOAA’s Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee