Authority

The 1955 Convention on Great Lakes Fisheries between Canada and the United States established the Great Lakes Fishery Commission consisting of a Canadian section and a United States section. The U.S. enabling legislation—the Great Lakes Fishery Act of 1956—states in part:

"Sec 4. (a) The United States section shall appoint an advisory committee for each of the Great Lakes, upon which committee each state bordering on the lake may be represented by not more than four members. In making such appointments, the United States section shall make its selection for each state from a list proposed by the governor of that state; and shall give due consideration to the interest of:

(1) state agencies having jurisdiction over fisheries; (2) the commercial fishing industry of the lake; (3) the sport fishing of the lake; and (4) the public-at-large [interests not covered by 1, 2, and 3].

(b) A member of the advisory committee for one lake may also be a member of the advisory committee for one or more other lakes.

(c) The members of the advisory committee shall receive no compensation from the Government of the United States for their services as such members. Not more than ten members of all the committees, designated by the committees and approved by the United States section, may be paid by the Government of the United States for transportation expenses and per diem incident to attendance at the annual meeting of the commission or the United States section.

(d) The members of the advisory committee for each lake shall be invited to attend all non-executive meetings of the United States section relating to that lake and at such meetings shall be granted opportunity to examine and be heard on all proposed recommendations, programs, and activities relating to that lake." Committee Purpose

To advise the U.S. section of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission by making comments, recommendations, and/or suggestions pertinent to the commission's duties, which are:

1. To formulate a research program designed to make possible the maximum sustained productivity of any stock of fish in the Great Lakes of common concern to the two countries, and to determine what measures are best adapted for such purposes;

2. To coordinate research made pursuant to such programs and, if necessary, to undertake such research itself;

3. To recommend appropriate measures to both governments on the basis of such research programs;

4. To formulate and implement a comprehensive program for the purpose of eradicating or minimizing the sea lamprey populations in the Great Lakes; and

5. To publish scientific and other information obtained by the commission in the performance of its duties."

Further, the advisory committee shall consider matters referred to it by the U.S. section and other matters which it believes are of concern to the Great Lakes fisheries and its fishery resource, whether environmental, biological or social.

Meeting Schedule and Attendance

Each lake advisory committee shall meet at least annually. Advisors should also attend the annual meeting of each Lake Committee. All advisors are invited to attend the non-executive meetings of the U.S. section and commission.

Membership

As described under "Authority."

Term of Membership

Members serve at the pleasure of the U.S. section. In the event a member is not contributing satisfactorily to the committee, the chairman of the committee shall report to the U.S. section.

Attendance at U.S. Section Meetings on State Department Travel Support

Meetings of the U.S. section are held normally in conjunction with the commission's annual meetings. Each Lake advisory committee designates one or two members and an alternate to attend the commission's annual meeting and its associated meetings on State Department travel support. Designations are submitted to the chairman of the U.S. section through the GLFC secretariat. The chairman of the U.S. section will make final selection of the five U.S. advisors to attend each meeting on expenses.

Voting

All members (or alternates with written proxies) shall have one vote. Voting is by simple majority, but decisions should be consensus. If consensus cannot be achieved, the concerns of different interests shall be described in the committee's report to the U.S. section. An individual's majority report may be received by the section separate from or together with the committee's report.

Officers

The advisory committee shall elect a chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary.

Terms of Office and Reporting

Terms of office for the chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary shall be two years, beginning immediately after election at the advisory committee's annual meeting . However, the out-going chairman shall present the committee's report to the U.S. section at the meeting following election of the new officers.

Chairman

Shall call meetings and work with the secretary in making local and written preparations for meetings.

Vice-Chairman

Shall serve as chairman in the chairman's absence.

Secretary

Shall prepare minutes and distribute them to the advisory committee membership, GLFC secretariat, and the U.S. section. The secretary shall work with the chairman to develop recommendations, advice, comment and reports to the U.S. section.

Invited Testimony

The committee may request expert advice, opinion, and special consultation.