[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 198 (Tuesday, October 14, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 53281]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27072]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 642

[I.D. 100197B]


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 (Caribbean Council) 
will convene public hearings on Amendment 1 to the Fishery Management 
Plan for Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates of Puerto 
Rico and the United States Virgin Islands (Coral FMP).

DATES: Written comments will be accepted until November 25, 1997. The 
public hearings will be on October 21, 22, and 23, 1997, 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 
Amendment 1 to the Coral FMP are available at the Caribbean Fishery 
Management Council, 268 Munoz Rivera Avenue, Suite 1108, San Juan, 
Puerto Rico 00918.
    The hearings will be held as follows:
    October 21, 1997, at the Boulon Center, 16-21 Inighed, Cruz Bay, 
St. John, U.S.V.I.
    October 22, 1997, at the Legislature Chambers, 1 Baracc Yard, 
Veterans Drive, Charlotte Emily, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.
    October 23, 1997, at the Caravelle Hotel, 44A Queens Cross, 
Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S.V.I.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Caribbean Fishery Management 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 be 
considering the establishment of a proposed ``no-take'' marine 
conservation district (MCD) in the EEZ due south of St. John, U.S.V.I. 
Fishing and the anchoring of fishing vessels would be prohibited in the 
MCD. The proposed MCD would cover approximately 20 square nautical 
miles and would be delineated by connecting the following coordinate 
points in the order listed:

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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.12.1' N       64 deg.42.2' W     
D.............................  18 deg.11.0' N       64 deg.46.9' W     
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    Dated: October 7, 1997.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-27072 Filed 10-10-97; 8:45 am]
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