[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 152 (Tuesday, August 8, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 40340-40341]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-19523]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Chapter VI

[I.D. 073195A]


Coral Reef 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 availability of a fishery management plan; and 
request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Caribbean Fishery Management Council 
has submitted a Fishery Management Plan for Corals and Reef Associated 
Plants and Invertebrates of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands 
(FMP) for review by NMFS. Written comments are requested form the 
public.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before October 10, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be mailed to the Southeast Regional Office, 
NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive N., St. Petersburg, FL 33702.
    Requests for copies of the FMP, which includes an environmental 
impact statement and a regulatory impact review, should be sent to the 
Caribbean Fishery Management Council, 268 Munoz Rivera Avenue, Suite 
1108, San Juan, PR 00918-2577, 809-766-5926.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Georgia Cranmore, 813-570-5305.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson Act) requires that a council-prepared fishery 
management plan be submitted to NMFS for review and approval, 
disapproval, or partial disapproval. The Magnuson Act also requires 
that NMFS, upon receiving a fishery management plan, immediately 
publish a notice that it is unavailable for public review and comment.
    This FMP proposes to (1) Prohibit the use of chemicals, plants, 
plant-derived toxins, and explosives to take coral reef resources in 
the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) around Puerto Rico and the U.S. 
Virgin Islands; (2) limit allowable harvest in the EEZ to dip nets and 
slurp guns or by hand; and (3) prohibit the possession or sale of stony 
corals, gorgonians, and live rock (prohibited species) taken in the 
EEZ.
    The Director, Southeast Region, NMFS, based on a preliminary 
evaluation of the FMP, has disapproved the proposed adoption of certain 
state permit systems for harvesters and dealers of coral reef resources 
and for the taking of prohibited species for scientific, educational, 
or restoration purposes. His action was based on a determination that 
the state permit systems for coral reef resources are not yet fully 
developed and that state regulations authorizing such permits, where 
they exist, do not satisfy the Administrative Procedure Act, the 
Magnuson Act, and other applicable laws.

[[Page 40341]]

    Proposed regulations to implement those measures of the FMP that 
were not disapproved based on the preliminary evaluation are scheduled 
for publication within 15 days.

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

    Dated: August 3, 1995.

Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-19523 Filed 8-3-95:3:49 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-M