---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 7002"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "7002"
heading: "United States representation on joint management committee"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/7002"
units:
  - "Chapter 89 — Pacific Whiting"
---

# §7002. United States representation on joint management committee

- (a) **Representatives—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/7001.md?p=8), in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall appoint 4 individuals to represent the United States as the [United States Section](/usc/16/7001.md?p=9) on the [joint management committee](/usc/16/7001.md?p=4). In making the appointments, the [Secretary](/usc/16/7001.md?p=8) shall select representatives from among individuals who are knowledgeable or experienced concerning the [offshore whiting resource](/usc/16/7001.md?p=6). Of these—
    - (A) 1 shall be an official of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
    - (B) 1 shall be a member of the Pacific Fishery Management Council, appointed with consideration given to any recommendation provided by that Council;
    - (C) 1 shall be appointed from a list submitted by the treaty [Indian tribes](/usc/16/544.md?p=g) with treaty fishing rights to the [offshore whiting resource](/usc/16/7001.md?p=6); and
    - (D) 1 shall be appointed from the commercial sector of the whiting fishing industry concerned with the [offshore whiting resource](/usc/16/7001.md?p=6).
  - (2) **Term of office—** Each representative appointed under [paragraph (1)](#a-1) shall be appointed for a term not to exceed 4 years, except that, of the initial appointments, 2 representatives shall be appointed for terms of 2 years. Any individual appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term of office of that individual’s predecessor shall be appointed for the remainder of that term. A representative may be appointed for a term of less than 4 years if such term is necessary to ensure that the term of office of not more than 2 representatives will expire in any single year. An individual appointed to serve as a representative is eligible for reappointment.
  - (3) **Chair—** Unless otherwise agreed by all of the 4 representatives, the chair shall rotate annually among the 4 members, with the order of rotation determined by lot at the first meeting.
- (b) **Alternate representatives—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/7001.md?p=8), in consultation with the Secretary of State, may designate alternate representatives of the United States to serve on the [joint management committee](/usc/16/7001.md?p=4). An alternative representative may exercise, at any meeting of the committee, all the powers and duties of a representative in the absence of a duly designated representative for whatever reason.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–479, title VI, § 603, Jan. 12, 2007, 120 Stat. 3645.)