[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 14 (Friday, January 21, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-1476]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 21, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. #123093F]

 

Queen Conch Resources of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

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

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a draft environmental impact 
statement (DEIS) and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the intention of the Caribbean Fishery 
Management Council (Council) to prepare a DEIS on a proposed Fishery 
Management Plan for Queen Conch Resources of Puerto Rico and the U.S. 
Virgin Islands (FMP). Management measures under consideration are 
designed to protect queen conch from further overharvest and damage 
from pollution and habitat degradation, and to restore the 
overexploited resource.
    The Council also announces a continuing public process to determine 
the scope of issues to be addressed and to identify the significant 
issues related to instituting a queen conch management program. The 
purpose of this notice is to inform the public of this ongoing process 
and of the opportunity to participate by submitting written comments.

DATES: Written comments on the scope of the DEIS must be submitted by 
February 22, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Scoping comments and requests for additional information on 
conch management issues should be sent to SR. Miguel Rolon, Executive 
Director, Caribbean Fishery Management Council, Suite 1108, 268 Ave. 
Munoz Rivera, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918-4577.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sr. Miguel Rolon, (809) 766-5928.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    At a meeting on March 9-10, 1988, in La Parguera, Puerto Rico, the 
Council reaffirmed its intent to manage declining conch resources 
within its area of jurisdiction. The status of the conch fishery was 
assessed in 1987 by Appeldoorn under contract with the Council. 
Overfishing was documented as so severe that the queen conch had 
virtually disappeared from certain traditional fishing grounds, 
especially from shallow areas. Decreased abundance has caused fishermen 
to move to other areas or into deep waters with scuba gear. Specific 
indications of overfishing of queen conch are: (1) Recent large 
decreases in catch following periods of historically high landing; (2) 
a low density of conch observed in resource surveys; (3) reports from 
fishermen that the resource is noticeably declining; and (4) high 
levels of fishing mortality in comparison to natural mortality, 
indicating that harvest is exceeding production and that overfishing is 
occurring.
Actions and Possible Alternatives Under Consideration
    The Council intends to develop the FMP to regulate the harvest of 
queen conch and to rebuild the overfished resource. Among alternatives, 
the Council will examine the following measures: (1) Seasonal closures; 
(2) area closures; (3) minimum sizes; (4) gear restrictions; (5) 
harvest limitations; (6) permitting requirements; (7) limiting entry; 
(8) reporting requirements; and (9) no regulatory action.

Scoping Process

    The council initially held scoping meetings on the conch fishery in 
September and November 1979; however, management efforts were abandoned 
when the meetings disclosed that conch resources occurred predominantly 
in waters under local (non-Federal) jurisdiction. After a lapse of 
about 8 years, efforts to manage queen conch were reinitiated after 
local resources were nearly exhausted and remaining conch resources 
were largely in Federal waters. Accordingly, scoping comments have been 
invited by the Council periodically since 1987. Upon reinitiation of 
the FMP planning efforts, scoping meetings were conducted in St. 
Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (U.S.V.I.) on February 25, 1988, and in 
Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, on February 26, 1988, to obtain recommendations 
from fishery participants on managing the fishery.
    In addition, management issues for the queen conch fishery were 
also discussed at the following Council meetings: St. Thomas, U.S.V.I., 
April 4-5, 1990; La Parguera, Puerto Rico, July 18-19, 1990; St. Croix, 
U.S.V.I., March 27-28, 1991; San Juan, Puerto Rico, March 26-27, 1992; 
and St. Croix, U.S.V.I., September 24-25, 1992. Because, a major 
amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Fishery of 
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands took higher priority, the 
Council further deferred preparation of the FMP.
    In view of all the previous discussions, no additional scoping 
meetings are scheduled on queen conch. Public hearings will be held on 
the draft FMP (Options Paper) and the DEIS; dates will be announced 
later. Further elaboration of proposed management measures for queen 
conch will take place at Council meetings scheduled during 1994. The 
Council will take testimony on proposed management measures at regular 
meetings where conch resources are addressed, as well as at public 
hearings on the draft options paper, FMP, and DEIS.

Timetable for DEIS Preparation and Decisionmaking Schedule

    The Council has established a tentative schedule for preparation, 
review, approval, and implementation of a queen conch FMP. Under this 
schedule, the draft FMP options paper and DEIS should be completed by 
September 1994. If the draft documents are acceptable, the Council will 
schedule public hearings on the proposed management options. It is 
anticipated that public comments will be addressed and that revised 
documents suitable for Secretarial review and approval will be 
completed by the end of November 1994.
    Under the Magnuson Act, Secretarial review of a proposed management 
plan takes up to 95 days and includes concurrent public comment periods 
on the documents submitted. Depending on the receipt date of the FMP 
and necessary documents and, if approved by the Secretary, the new 
management program probably would become effective in the spring of 
1995.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: January 18, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-1476 Filed 1-19-94; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-M