# § 5601. Representation of United States under Convention
**(a)** **Commissioners**
**(1)** **Appointments, generally** The Secretary shall appoint not more than 3 individuals to serve as the representatives of the United States on the Commission, who shall each—
**(A)** be known as a “United States Commissioner to the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization”; and
**(B)** serve at the pleasure of the Secretary.
**(2)** **Requirements for appointments**
**(A)** The Secretary shall ensure that of the individuals serving as Commissioners—
**(i)** at least 1 is appointed from among representatives of the commercial fishing industry;
**(ii)** 1 (but no more than 1) is an official of the Government; and
**(iii)** 1, other than the individual appointed under clause (ii), is a voting member of the New England Fishery Management Council.
**(B)** The Secretary may not appoint as a Commissioner an individual unless the individual is knowledgeable and experienced concerning the fishery resources to which the Convention applies.
**(3)** **Terms**
**(A)** The term of an individual appointed as a Commissioner—
**(i)** shall be specified by the Secretary at the time of appointment; and
**(ii)** may not exceed 4 years.
**(B)** An individual who is not a Government official may not serve more than 2 consecutive terms as a Commissioner.
**(b)** **Alternate Commissioners**
**(1)** **Appointment** The Secretary may, for any anticipated absence of a duly appointed Commissioner, designate an individual to serve as an Alternate Commissioner.
**(2)** **Functions** An Alternate Commissioner may exercise all powers and perform all duties of the Commissioner for whom the Alternate Commissioner is designated.
**(c)** **Representatives**
**(1)** **Appointment** The Secretary shall appoint not more than 3 individuals to serve as the representatives of the United States on the Scientific Council, who shall each be known as a “United States Representative to the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Scientific Council”.
**(2)** **Eligibility for appointment**
**(A)** The Secretary may not appoint an individual as a Representative unless the individual is knowledgeable and experienced concerning the scientific issues dealt with by the Scientific Council.
**(B)** The Secretary shall appoint as a Representative at least 1 individual who is an official of the Government.
**(3)** **Term** An individual appointed as a Representative—
**(A)** shall serve for a term of not to exceed 4 years, as specified by the Secretary at the time of appointment;
**(B)** may be reappointed; and
**(C)** shall serve at the pleasure of the Secretary.
**(d)** **Alternate Representatives**
**(1)** **Appointment** The Secretary may, for any anticipated absence of a duly appointed Representative, designate an individual to serve as an Alternate Representative.
**(2)** **Functions** An Alternate Representative may exercise all powers and perform all duties of the Representative for whom the Alternate Representative is designated.
**(e)** **Experts and advisers** The Commissioners, Alternate Commissioners, Representatives, and Alternate Representatives may be accompanied at meetings of the Organization by experts and advisers.
**(f)** **Coordination and consultation**
**(1)** **In general** In carrying out their functions under the Convention, Commissioners, Alternate Commissioners, Representatives, and Alternate Representatives shall—
**(A)** coordinate with the appropriate Regional Fishery Management Councils established by section 1852 of this title; and
**(B)** consult with the committee established under section 5607 of this title.
**(2)** **Relationship to other law** Chapter 10 of title 5 shall not apply to coordination and consultations under this subsection.
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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 104–43, title II, § 202, Nov. 3, 1995, 109 Stat. 377; Pub. L. 114–327, title V, § 502, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1995; Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(124), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4319.)
## Editorial Notes
### Amendments
2022—Subsec. (f)(2). substituted “Chapter 10 of title 5” for “The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.)”.
2016—Subsec. (a)(1). , in introductory provisions, struck out “General Council and the Fisheries” before “Commission”.
Subsec. (b)(1). , struck out “at a meeting of the General Council or the Fisheries Commission” after “appointed Commissioner”.
Subsec. (b)(2). , struck out “, at any meeting of the General Council or the Fisheries Commission for which the Alternate Commissioner is designated” before period at end.
Subsec. (d)(1). , struck out “at a meeting of the Scientific Council” after “appointed Representative”.
Subsec. (d)(2). , struck out “, at any meeting of the Scientific Council for which the Alternate Representative is designated” before period at end.
Subsec. (f)(1)(A). , made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to .
## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
### Short Title of 2016 Amendment
> “This title [amending this section and sections 5602 to 5604, 5606, 5607, 5609, and 5610 of this title and repealing
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Convention Amendments Act’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title
> “This title [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Convention Act of 1995’.”
, , , provided that: