Fishery conservation and management: Caribbean, Gulf and South Atlantic fisheries— Caribbean Fishery Management Council; hearings,

[Federal Register: June 1, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 104)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 29688-29689]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr01jn98-40]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

0 CFR Part 622

[I.D. 051898C]

Caribbean Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Public hearings; request for comments.

SUMMARY: The Caribbean Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene public hearings on draft Amendment Number 1 to the Fishery Management Plan for Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands for Establishing a Marine Conservation District.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted until June 30, 1998. The public hearings will be held June 9-11, 1998, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Mr. Miguel A. Rolon, Executive Director, Caribbean Fishery Management Council, 268 Munoz Rivera Ave., Suite 1108, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918. Copies of draft Amendment Number 1 are available from the Caribbean Fishery Management Council, 268 Munoz Rivera Avenue, Suite 1108, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918; telephone: (787) 766-5926; fax: (787) 766-6239.

The hearings will be held as follows:

June 9, 1998, at the Conference Room of the Legislature Building, Cruz Bay, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI).

June 10, 1998, at the Legislature Chambers, Old Varren Building, St. Thomas, USVI.

June 11, 1998, at the Caravelle Hotel, 44A Queens Cross, Christiansted, St. Croix, USVI.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Miguel A. Rolon, telephone: (787) 766- 5926; fax: (787) 766-6239.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council will be holding public hearings on the draft Amendment Number 1 to the Fishery Management Plan for Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands for Establishing a Marine Conservation District. The Council will consider establishing a ``no-take'' marine conservation district (MCD) in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the USVI. A ``no-take'' MCD is an MCD in which fishing is prohibited. The proposed options are the following.

Option A: Establish a no-take MCD in the EEZ, in the area known as the ``Hind Bank'' southwest of St. Thomas, USVI, within the coordinates specified below:

Point

Latitude

Longitude

A.............................. 18 deg.13.2' N..... 65 deg.06.0' W. B.............................. 18 deg.13.2' N..... 64 deg.59.0' W. C.............................. 18 deg.11.8' N..... 64 deg.59.0' W. D.............................. 18 deg.10.7' N..... 65 deg.06.0' W.

Option B: Establish a no-take MCD in the EEZ, including the area known as the ``Hind Bank'' southwest of St. Thomas, USVI, but with a modified northern boundary that extends one nautical mile north of the present demarcation line of the Hind Bank. This option would establish a no-take MCD within the coordinates specified below:

Point

Latitude

Longitude

A.............................. 18 deg.14.2' N..... 65 deg.06.0' W. B.............................. 18 deg.14.2' N..... 64 deg.59.0' W. C.............................. 18 deg.11.8' N..... 64 deg.59.0' W. D.............................. 18 deg.10.7' N..... 65 deg.06.0' W.

Option C: Establish a no-take MCD in the EEZ, due south of St. John, USVI, within the coordinates specified below:

Point

Description

Latitude

Longitude

A.............................. South of Bovocoap Point 18 deg.15.3' N................ 64 deg.46.9' W. at Boundary with

Territorial Sea.

B.............................. South of Ram Head at 18 deg.15.0' N................ 64 deg.42.2' W. Boundary with

Territorial Sea.

C.............................. SE corner................ 18 deg.12.1' N................ 64 deg.42.2' W. D.............................. SW corner................ 18 deg.11.0' N................ 64 deg.46.9' W.

[[Page 29689]]

Special Accomodations

These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council staff (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days prior to the meeting.

Dated: May 27, 1998. Bruce C. Morehead, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 98-14432Filed5-29-98; 8:45 am]

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