The American Fisheries Advisory Committee is a 22-member committee with three representatives from each of six regions. Members represent seafood sectors, including processors, recreational and commercial fishermen and seafood farmers, fisheries scientists, and regional fishery management council members. Additionally, there are four at-large members, including one representative each from the retail and marketing sector, commercial fisheries, recreational fisheries, and NOAA Fisheries.

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.

Call for New Committee Members

NOAA Fisheries will be accepting applications for nine new members to the American Fisheries Advisory Committee from May 7, 2024 until June 21, 2024. Applications may be submitted to nmfs.afac.nominations@noaa.gov. 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. Please read on for additional information about how to apply.

What Positions are Open on the Committee?

Member terms are for three years with staggered terms for initial members. This is the first call for new members since the committee was initially established. Seven initial membership terms expire August 30, 2024, and two additional members stepped down. The following member positions will be available:

Region 2 - Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut

• One individual with experience as a Recreational or Commercial Fisher and/or Experience Growing Seafood

Region 3 - Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Arkansas, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands

• One individual with experience as a Recreational or Commercial Fisher and/or Experience Growing Seafood 

Region 4 - California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho

• One individual with experience as a Recreational or Commercial Fisher and/or Experience Growing Seafood 

Region 5 - New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia

• One individual with experience as a Recreational or Commercial Fisher and/or Experience Growing Seafood

What is the Full Composition of the Committee?

Members are selected so that the committee will represent as many seafood species as practicable. The committee is composed of 22 members. There are 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 are 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 Meeting Frequency

The committee will meet three times per year. Twice a year in person and once virtually. The meeting location rotates between committee regions, usually lasting up to four business days, subject to the time needs of each meeting and the virtual meeting is one day for up to six hours.

Committee Member Terms

Committee member terms are 3-year appointments.

Application Schedule and Details

The current call for membership is open May 7, 2024 until June 21, 2024.

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

Applications may be submitted to nmfs.afac.nominations@noaa.gov from May 7, 2024 until June 21, 2024. No applications will be accepted after June 21, 2024.

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 the nine new members by August 1, 2024

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.

For the complete NOAA announcement and additional information, click here.