(1) The Fisheries Scientific Committee must either accept or reject a proposal
for the amendment of Schedule 4, 4A, 5 or 6, and must give reasons for the
determination.
(2) The reasons for a determination are to include reference
to such of the criteria prescribed by the regulations under sections 220F-
220FC as may be relevant to the determination.
(3) In a case involving a
nomination, the Fisheries Scientific Committee must make a final determination
within 6 months after the end of the period allowed for public comment on the
proposed determination of the nomination under section 220K (as provided under
section 284).
(4) Before making a final determination the
Fisheries Scientific Committee must give the Minister notice in writing of the
proposed final determination. The Minister then has 2 months to decide whether
to refer the proposed final determination back to the
Fisheries Scientific Committee for further consideration under section 220M.
(b) the Minister has not referred the proposed final
determination back to the Fisheries Scientific Committee for further
consideration under section 220M within 2 months after the Minister was given
notice of the proposed final determination, or
(c) if the Minister has
referred the proposed final determination back to the
Fisheries Scientific Committee for further consideration under section 220M
within that 2 months, the Fisheries Scientific Committee has decided to
proceed with the final determination following that further consideration.
(6) The Minister may at the request of the Fisheries Scientific Committee
extend and further extend the period of 6 months under subsection (3), to a
maximum period of 2 years.
(7) Failure to make a final determination within
the period required by this section or to give notice to the Minister of a
proposed final determination within the period required by this section does
not affect the validity of the determination.
