 |
|
|
Publications and Products
(Produced by the former
Habitat Advisory Board)
Terms of Reference
COMMITTEE NAME
Great Lakes Fish Habitat Conservation Committee
AUTHORITY
The Great Lakes Fishery Commission established this
Committee on 7 June 2000 under Article VI of the
Convention on Great Lakes Fisheries between Canada and the
United States (1955), and in fulfillment of commitments
made by the Commission to support ‘A Joint Strategic
Plan for Management of Great Lakes Fisheries’ (1991,
1997).
AREA OF CONCERN
For deliberations of this Committee, the area of concern
is as defined in the Convention on Great Lakes Fisheries:
“Lake Ontario (including the St. Lawrence River from
Lake Ontario to the 45th parallel of latitude), Lake Erie,
Lake Huron, (including Lake St. Clair), Lake Michigan,
Lake Superior and their connecting waters…” It also
includes the tributaries of each of the above waters to
the extent necessary to realization of fish community
objectives as described by Lake Committees of the Great
Lakes Fishery Commission.
COMMITTEE PURPOSE
As envisioned by a Joint Strategic Plan for Management of
Great Lakes Fisheries, Lake Committees are clients of this
Committee. In addition, the Commission has information
needs relative to the Convention and the GLFC Vision with
which the Committee shall assist, i.e.,
1. Assist each Lake Committee to develop environmental
objectives essential to achieving its fishery objectives.
2. Recommend, publish, and promote programs and techniques
to monitor habitat and other environmental needs of
desired fish communities, and to report such information
at SGLFMP lake conferences.
3. Identify and address current and emerging habitat
issues that may impede achievement of fishery goals.
4. Identify information needs relative to environmental
objectives and their status.
5. Work with lake wide management plans, remedial action
plans, GLWQA state of the lake conferences, and the Board
of Technical Experts to accomplish its purpose.
6. Advise the Council of Lake Committees and Commission on
these and related issues.
7. [Secretariat – add language re GLFHCC/BOTE research
coordination similar to SLIC/BOTE coordination on
alternative research.]
MEETING SCHEDULE
The Committee shall meet at least annually. The meetings
shall be sufficiently in advance of the annual meetings of
the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and Council of Lake
Committees to allow the preparation of material, reports,
and recommendations for Commission and Council of Lake
Committees review and action at their respective annual
meetings. Special Committee meetings may be convened by
the Committee Chairman to deal with unfinished or urgent
items of business.
MEMBERSHIP
Each agency signatory to ‘A Joint Strategic Plan for
Management of Great Lakes Fisheries’ is invited to
appoint a representative to the Committee. The Commission
in consultation with the Council of Lake Committees will
invite a representative each from the Environmental
Protection Agency, Environment Canada, and the
International Joint Commission to assist the Committee on
a non-voting basis.
OFFICERS
The Chairman shall be a Commissioner whose appointment
will be reviewed annually by the GLFC.
The Secretary is a voting member elected by the committee
membership at an annual meeting for a two-year term
beginning at the conclusion of the meeting at which he or
she was elected. The outgoing secretary is responsible for
preparing and distributing the proceedings of that meeting
under the general guidance of the chairman. The secretary
serves as chairman pro tem as appropriate.
TECHNICAL ADVISORS
Technical advisors appointed by the Commission in
consultation with the Council of Lake Committees to
provide specialist expertise as required to enhance the
conduct of Committee work.
ROLE OF GLFC SECRETARIAT
The Secretariat provides liaison with the Commission and
facilitates the Committee’s operations, including
meeting arrangements and administration of budget.
DECISIONS
The business of the Committee will be conducted by
consensus. When consensus cannot be achieved, the concerns
of all members shall be described in the Committee’s
report to the Commission, or in the case of environmental
objectives, to the appropriate Lake Committees.
WORKING GROUPS
Upon approval of the Committee, Working Groups may be
appointed by the Chairman to undertake / coordinate
special studies related to Committee activities.
REPORTING
The Chairman will furnish detailed reports of Committee
meetings to all members and to the Secretariat. Reports on
fish habitat matters, and Committee recommendations for
Commission approval, will be presented at the
Commission’s Annual Meeting and to other Commission
associated meetings as appropriate.
7 June 2000
|
|
