[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 37 (Friday, February 23, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 6965]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4168]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 642

[I.D. 021496A]


Caribbean Fishery Management Council; Public Hearing

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

ACTION: Public hearing; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Caribbean Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
convene one public hearing on alternatives for closed areas to protect 
spawning aggregations of red hind in an area off Mayaguez, PR.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted on or before March 15, 1996. 
The public hearing will be on March 7, 1996, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to and copies of the 
document with the alternatives to be considered are available from 
Miguel A. Rolon, Executive Director, Caribbean Fishery Management 
Council, 268 Munoz Rivera Ave., Suite 1108, San Juan, PR 00918. The 
hearing will be held at the Joyuda Plaza Hotel, Cabo Rojo, PR.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Miguel A. Rolon, (809) 766-5926; Fax 
(809) 766 6239.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Council will be holding a public hearing on alternatives for 
closed areas to protect the spawning aggregations of the red hind 
grouper during the period December 1 through February 28 of each 
consecutive year. The current regulation that implements the Fishery 
Management Plan for the Shallow Water Reeffish Fishery of Puerto Rico 
and the U.S. Virgin Islands (FMP) establishes a closed area off 
Mayaguez, PR to protect the spawning grounds of this species of 
grouper. Recent information obtained by the Council indicates that the 
fish aggregations are taking place in other sites outside the present 
closed area. The Council will be considering alternatives to the closed 
area that could be more effective in protecting the red hind spawning 
aggregations while causing less burden to fishers.
    The following alternatives will be considered: (1) No action. Keep 
the same area of seasonal closure (Amendment 2 of the FMP, 1993), (2) 
close an area of 1 1/2 miles (2.41 kilometers (km)) radius around 
``Buoy 8.'' The area will be closed to all fishing from December 1 to 
February 28 of each year, (3) close an area of 1 1/2 miles (2.41 km) 
radius around ``Buoy 6.'' The area will be closed to all fishing from 
December 1 to February 28 of each year; (4) close an area of 1 1/2 
miles (2.41 km) radius centered around a buoy to be deployed in the 
area known as ``El Bajo de Sico'' to all fishing between December 1 and 
February 28 of each year, and (5) close all three areas mentioned above 
to all fishing between December 1 and February 28 of each year.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. For more information or requests for sign language 
interpretation and/or other auxiliary aids, please contact Miguel A. 
Rolon at (809) 766-5926 (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days prior to the 
meeting date.

    Dated: February 15, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-4168 Filed 2-22-96; 8:45 am]
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