[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 6 (Monday, January 10, 1994)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1384-1385]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-504]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 10, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 010394B]

 

Draft Fishery Management Plan for Corals, Plants, and Associated 
Invertebrates for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearings and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Caribbean Fishery Management Council will hold public 
hearings on the Draft Fishery Management Plan for Corals, Plants, and 
Associated Invertebrates for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands 
(FMP).

DATES: Written comments on the draft FMP should be submitted on or 
before February 15, 1994. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, 
time, and location of the public hearings.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Miguel A. Rolon, Executive 
Director, Caribbean Fishery Management Council, 268 Munoz Rivera 
Avenue, suite 1108, San Juan, Puerto Rico 0918-2577.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Miguel A. Rolon, (809) 753-6910.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The draft FMP proposes the following 
management measures: (1) Prohibit the harvest or possession of stony 
corals, whether dead or alive, except for legally permitted research, 
education, and restoration programs; (2) prohibit the harvest or 
possession of sea fans and gorgonians (octocorals) and any species in 
the fishery management unit if attached or existing upon live-rock, 
live or dead, except for legally permitted research, education, and 
restoration programs; (3) prohibit the sale or possession of any 
prohibited species unless the specimen entered the management area in 
interstate or international commerce and is fully documented as to 
point of origin; (4) prohibit the use of chemical, plants or plant-
derived toxins, and explosives to harvest organisms in the coral 
fishery management unit, except for legally permitted research, 
education, and restoration programs; (5) limit harvest of fishery 
management unit organisms except for those listed in Appendix A, to 
hand-held dip-nets, slurp guns, hand and other non-habitat destructive 
gear, except for legally permitted research, education, and restoration 
programs; (6) require an annual permit to harvest or possess organisms 
in the fishery management unit; (7) require collectors, dealers, and 
exporters of species managed under the coral plan to acquire an annual 
permit, to submit monthly records and report harvest, shipments, and 
unit cost; and (8) establish a Marine Conservation District (MCD) in 
the exclusive economic zone, due south of St. John, U.S. Virgin 
Islands, within the coordinates specified below; no possession while 
moored, fishing, or harvesting of any organisms will be allowed in the 
MCD; no anchoring will be allowed in the MCD. Exceptions to the above 
restrictions are allowed for legally permitted research, education, and 
restoration programs.

          Proposed Coordinates for Marine Conservation District         
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         Point                  Latitude                Longitude       
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A.....................  18 deg.15.3' N.          64 deg.46.9' W.        
B.....................  18 deg.15.0' N.          64 deg.42.2' W.        
C.....................  18 deg.10.0' N.          64 deg.42.2' W.        
D.....................  18 deg.10.0' N.          64 deg.46.9' W.        
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    All hearings will be held from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and are scheduled 
on the following dates at the following locations:
    1. Tuesday, February 1, 1994--Conference Room, Legislature 
Building, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
    2. Wednesday, February 2, 1994--Boulon Center, Legislature Room, 
St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands.
    3. Thursday, February 3, 1994--Conference Room, Legislature 
Building, Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
    4. Tuesday, February 8, 1994--Conference Room, Hotel Antibes, Cabo 
Rojo, Puerto Rico.
    5. Wednesday, February 9, 1994--Restaurant Meson Criollo, Road 987 
Km 3.2, Las Croabas, Fajardo, Puerto Rico.
    Testimony may be presented at any of the hearings. Copies of the 
draft FMP are available (see ADDRESSES).

    Dated: January 5, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-504 Filed 1-7-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-M