[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 104 (Monday, June 1, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 29688-29689]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14432]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

0 CFR Part 622

[I.D. 051898C]


Caribbean Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Public hearings; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Caribbean Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
convene public hearings on 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.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted until June 30, 1998. The 
public hearings will be held June 9-11, 1998, 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 draft 
Amendment Number 1 are available from the Caribbean Fishery Management 
Council, 268 Munoz Rivera Avenue, Suite 1108, San Juan, Puerto Rico 
00918; telephone: (787) 766-5926; fax: (787) 766-6239.
    The hearings will be held as follows:
    June 9, 1998, at the Conference Room of the Legislature Building, 
Cruz Bay, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI).
    June 10, 1998, at the Legislature Chambers, Old Varren Building, 
St. Thomas, USVI.
    June 11, 1998, at the Caravelle Hotel, 44A Queens Cross, 
Christiansted, St. Croix, USVI.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 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 consider establishing a ``no-take'' marine 
conservation district (MCD) in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the 
USVI. A ``no-take'' MCD is an MCD in which fishing is prohibited. The 
proposed options are the following.
    Option A: Establish a no-take MCD in the EEZ, in the area known as 
the ``Hind Bank'' southwest of St. Thomas, USVI, within the coordinates 
specified below:

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             Point                     Latitude            Longitude    
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A..............................  18 deg.13.2' N.....  65 deg.06.0' W.   
B..............................  18 deg.13.2' N.....  64 deg.59.0' W.   
C..............................  18 deg.11.8' N.....  64 deg.59.0' W.   
D..............................  18 deg.10.7' N.....  65 deg.06.0' W.   
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    Option B: Establish a no-take MCD in the EEZ, including the area 
known as the ``Hind Bank'' southwest of St. Thomas, USVI, but with a 
modified northern boundary that extends one nautical mile north of the 
present demarcation line of the Hind Bank. This option would establish 
a no-take MCD within the coordinates specified below:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Point                     Latitude            Longitude    
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A..............................  18 deg.14.2' N.....  65 deg.06.0' W.   
B..............................  18 deg.14.2' N.....  64 deg.59.0' W.   
C..............................  18 deg.11.8' N.....  64 deg.59.0' W.   
D..............................  18 deg.10.7' N.....  65 deg.06.0' W.   
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    Option C: Establish a no-take MCD in the EEZ, due south of St. 
John, USVI, within the coordinates specified below:

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             Point                      Description                    Latitude                   Longitude     
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A..............................  South of Bovocoap Point    18 deg.15.3' N................  64 deg.46.9' W.     
                                  at Boundary with                                                              
                                  Territorial Sea.                                                              
B..............................  South of Ram Head at       18 deg.15.0' N................  64 deg.42.2' W.     
                                  Boundary with                                                                 
                                  Territorial Sea.                                                              
C..............................  SE corner................  18 deg.12.1' N................  64 deg.42.2' W.     
D..............................  SW corner................  18 deg.11.0' N................  64 deg.46.9' W.     
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[[Page 29689]]

Special Accomodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council staff (see ADDRESSES) 
at least 5 days prior to the meeting.

    Dated: May 27, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-14432 Filed 5-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P