NOAA Fisheries is calling for applications for the new American Fisheries Advisory Committee. The Committee was established by the American Fisheries Advisory Committee Act in May 2022 to make recommendations for Saltonstall-Kennedy priorities and grant award funding.
The Act requires the establishment of a 22-member committee with three representatives from each of six regions. Members will represent seafood sectors, including processors, recreational and commercial fishermen and seafood farmers, fisheries scientists, and regional fishery management council members. Additionally, there will be four at-large members, including one representative each from the retail and marketing sector, commercial fisheries, recreational fisheries, and NOAA Fisheries.
"The new American Fisheries Advisory Committee will bring together a wide breadth of industry and stakeholder representatives from around the country to thoughtfully consider program priorities and make recommendations for the awarding of funds for Saltonstall-Kennedy grants,” said NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator, Janet Coit. “NOAA Fisheries is pleased to assist Secretary Gina Raimondo with the process of identifying candidates, and I encourage anyone who is interested in providing input on priority fisheries research and development projects to please apply."
Who Can Serve on the Committee?
Members will be selected so that the committee will represent as many seafood species as practicable. The committee will be composed of 22 members.
There will be three members from each region (18 total):
- One seafood harvester or processor
- One recreational or commercial fisherman or seafood farmer
- One representative of the fisheries science community or the relevant regional fishery management council
There will be four at-large members:
- One individual with experience in food distribution, marketing, retail, or food service
- One individual with experience in the recreational fishing industry supply chain, such as fishermen, manufacturers, retailers, and distributors
- One individual with experience in the commercial fishing industry supply chain, such as fishermen, manufacturers, retailers, and distributors
- One employee of NOAA Fisheries with expertise in fisheries research
Committee Regions
- Alaska, Hawaii, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa
- Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut
- Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Arkansas, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
- California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho
- New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia
- Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania
Committee Responsibilities
The committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Secretary of Commerce for financial assistance awards under the Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Competition. The committee will also make recommendations to the Secretary to assist in the development of the annual Notice of Funding Opportunities for submission to the Grant Competition. This may include:
- Identifying the needs of the fishing communities (program priorities)
- Establishing individual award funding limits
- Specifying the application review criteria and selection processes, and other sections of the Notice of Funding Opportunities as appropriate and allowable
NOAA Fisheries will coordinate the technical reviews of the grant applications prior to work done by the Committee.
Committee Meeting Frequency
The committee will meet no more than twice per year. We anticipate that meetings will be in person, rotating between committee regions, and lasting up to 4 business days.
Committee Member Terms
Committee member terms will be staggered. One third of all members will serve an initial term of 2 years, one third an initial term of 3 years, and one third an initial term of 4 years. This will be followed by 3-year terms for each member thereafter. The established nomination and selection processes will be applied for all membership cycles going forward with respective dates to be determined.
Application Schedule and Details
Applications may be submitted to nmfs.afac.nominations@noaa.gov from August 10, 2022 until September 24, 2022.
Application Requirements
Each applicant must submit the following in PDF format:
- A cover letter that includes a brief statement of the applicant’s interest in serving on the Committee and their qualifications
- A resume/CV that details the applicant’s contact information (address, telephone number, email address) and specific qualifications and expertise as referenced in the Act
The selection process will be based on thorough vetting of all nominees, who will be appointed by the Secretary of Commerce through delegated authority to the NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator.
The Secretary will announce regional and at-large members of the committee by December 1, 2022.
Saltonstall-Kennedy Funds
Saltonstall-Kennedy funds are used to provide grants or cooperative agreements for fisheries research and development projects addressing aspects of U.S. fisheries. This includes harvesting, processing, marketing, and associated business infrastructures. The grants and cooperative agreements are made on a competitive basis to execute projects that optimize the economic benefits of building and maintaining sustainable fisheries and practices, dealing with the impacts of conservation and management measures, and increasing other opportunities to support working waterfronts.
