December 19, 2014 — The following was released by NOAA:
President Obama recently appointed Barry Thom, NOAA Fisheries Deputy Regional Administrator of the West Coast Region, as one of the four United States Commissioners to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC). Mr. Thom has filled the temporary appointment as the Alternate United States Commissioner to the IATTC since April of 2014.
The IATTC is an international fishery management organization formed in 1949 to facilitate international cooperation among tuna fishing nations in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The IATTC monitors and assesses populations of tuna, billfish, and shark species, as well as recommends appropriate conservation measures to maintain catch at sustainable levels.
The IATTC is comprised of 21 member nations and four cooperating non-members. The membership includes: Belize, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, European Union, France, Guatemala, Japan, Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Chinese Taipei, United States, Vanuatu, and Venezuela. Cooperating non-members include Bolivia, Honduras, Indonesia, and Liberia.
Read the full release from NOAA