NOAA Fisheries announced the call for applications for the new American Fisheries Advisory Committee.

The Committee was established by the American Fisheries Advisory Committee Act in May 2022 for the purpose of making 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.

Applications may be submitted to nmfs.afac.nominations@noaa.gov by September 24, 2022. 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.

Once selected, this new committee will evaluate and make recommendations for the annual Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Competition. The Act states the committee shall be responsible for developing the request for proposals, reviewing applications for grants after the technical review, and selecting applications for approval. As a reminder, Saltonstall-Kennedy funds are used to provide grants or cooperative agreements for fisheries research and development projects addressing aspects of U.S. fisheries, including but not limited to harvesting, processing, marketing, and associated business infrastructures.

Information on how to apply is available here.