FACACLASSIC

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

Details on agency responses to committee recommendations can be found under the Performance Measures section for each committee in the fields “Agency Feedback” and “Agency Feedback Comment.”

DHS - 681 - National Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	National Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee	Agency Name	Department of Homeland Security
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	681
Original Establishment Date	9/9/1988	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assis...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	18
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Chief, Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance (CG-CVC)
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Captain
Current Charter Date	7/12/2024	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Mark
Date Of Renewal Charter	7/12/2026	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name	R
Projected Termination Date	9/30/2029	Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Neeland
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(202) 372-1210 or (202) 209-5031
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*
Specific Establishment Authority*	§ 601 of the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 (Pub. L. No. 115-282, 132 Stat. 4192 and amended by §8335 of the NDAA of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 116-283, 134 Stat 4706) and codified in 46 U.S.C. § 15102	Designated Federal Officer Email*	mark.r.neeland@uscg.mil
Effective Date Of Authority*	10/29/2020
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	National Policy Issue Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required
Legislation Status
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The Coast Guard considers the Committee's input when making certain management decisions, best practices and when drafting applicable regulations. The Committee represents the wide range of perspectives that are necessary to ensure that Coast Guard policies and rulemaking address the issues that pertain to the industry. The Coast Guard is able to task specific assignments such as training, stability and voluntary best practices to this group to obtain advice. The Committee’s input and recommendations are especially valuable now, as the Coast Guard seeks to implement a host of new congressional requirements, through policy and rulemaking from the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018, 2015, 2012, 2010 and the repeal of Executive Order 13771.
How is membership balanced?*	The Committee is composed of 18 members as follows: 10 members of the fishing industry who reflect regional and representational balance; 1 member representing naval architects or marine surveyors; 1 member representing manufacturers of fishing vessel safety equipment; 1 member representing education or training professionals relating to fishing vessels; 1 member representing underwriters that insure fishing vessels; 1 member representing owners of vessels to which Chapter 45 of Title 46, U.S.C. applies; and 3 members representing the general public composed of, whenever possible, an independent expert or consultant in maritime safety, a marine surveyor who provides services to vessels to which Chapter 45 of Title 46 U.S.C. applies, and a person familiar with issues affecting fishing communities and families of fishermen.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	It is expected the Committee will meet at least twice each calendar year, but may meet more frequently as needs may require. In FY24, the Committee met in Fernandina Beach, FL on April 9-11 2024 and again in Anchorage, AK in September 10-11, 2024.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	This Committee acts in an advisory capacity to the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, on matters relating to the safety of commercial fishing industry vessels. The previous Committee was instrumental in helping to develop the first ever safety regulations for the commercial fishing industry in 1988. There are no other committees which deal with exactly the same subject matter. However, the Magnuson-Stevens Act requires the Fishery Management Councils, administered by the Department of Commerce, to address safety in their fishery management decisions. The Committee has continued to provide valuable recommendations on education, outreach, and additional areas for regulations and voluntary best practices and standards that could improve upon the safety record of this industry. The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 expands construction, equipment, and oversight requirements for commercial fishing industry vessels. A series of proposed rules will be required to implement the new regulations over the next few years. The new national Committee has convened four times since the 2018 new national Committee authorization, continuing their work on safety and drug issues. The meetings have focused largely on the advising the Coast Guard casualty investigations and implementing best practice industry guidance. The Coast Guard is primarily concerned with operational casualties and fatalities. The passage of the 2018 Coast Guard Authorization Act makes the new National Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee’s work especially important as the USCG works to implement new congressional requirements.
Why close or partially close meetings?	N/A
Recommendation Remarks	Under 46 U.S.C. § 15109(m), the Committee is authorized to continue until September 30, 2029.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	Yes	Action Reorganize Priorities*	No
Outcome Trust In Government	No	Action Reallocate Resources	No
Outcome Major Policy Changes	Yes	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	No	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	No	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	No	Action Comment	Reorganization of priorities and reallocation of resources may not be as a direct result of committee recommendations. However, any changes implemented may be influenced by committee input. Input from the committee often influences how outreach and educational activities are conducted with the industry.
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	Yes	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	N/A	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	When new or revised rules require vessel owners/operators to add or upgrade safety and survival equipment on their vessels, there most likely is no cost saving to their operations. Additionally, any mandatory training and required refresher training has the ability to easily prohibit cost savings to the industry or American Taxpayer. However, if one considers that the number of vessel losses and fatalities have decreased considerably since the safety requirements were mandated, there likely has been an overall cost savings to the industry and fishing community relative to property loss and loss of life. A better analysis is needed to address any cost savings comments because the significant drop in active commercial fishing vessels operating since 1988 is also largely attributable to the relevant and documented decrease in the loss of life and property during this time frame where non operational fatalities and casualties were inclusive in the numbers being reported.	Grants Review Comment
Number Of Recommendations*	24	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	In FY24, the Committee met twice and made 13 recommendations associated with tasks.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	38.46%	Access Committee Website	No
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	5/13 = 38.46%	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	42.31%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	10 NCFSAC recommendations are under consideration or action pends by USCG but have not been fully or partially implemented to date.	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	A link to the DCO CVC USCG mil page has been established https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Prevention-Policy-CG-5P/Inspections-Compliance-CG-5PC-/Commercial-Vessel-Compliance/Fishing-Vessel-Safety-Division/cfsac/ where the NCFSAC information is primarily posted.
Agency Feedback Comment*	Periodically, a teleconference may be held to provide status updates on recommendations and information regarding program initiatives and actions in addition to NCFSAC taskings. Traditionally at the next meeting, the Committee will revisit Old Business to review the actions of the preceding meeting, review past recommendations and progress made on them, and the results of any action on recommendations. USCG comments to NCFSAC recommendations for each of the two meetings in FY24 are posted and can be found at: https://www.dco.uscg.mil/NCFSAC2024/	Narrative Description*	The Committee will advise, consult with, and make recommendations reflecting the Committee's independent judgment on Coast Guard taskings relating to the safe operation of vessels to which Chapter 45 of Title 46 U.S.C. applies, including navigational safety, safety equipment and procedures, marine insurance, vessel design, construction, maintenance and operation and personnel qualification and training and drug use. In FY24, the Committee met twice, 3 days in Fernandina Beach, FL and for 2 days in Anchorage, AK for a total of 5 days. The Anchorage meeting was a 2 day meeting vs. a 3 day meeting to keep costs under the DHS 90K threshold.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
3. Payments to Federal Staff*		3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*		5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*
11. Total Costs	$0.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	2/12/2025 12:42 PM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Education Training Government Federal Government Health Safety

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