[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 166 (Thursday, August 27, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45798-45799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-23015]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D.080498D]


Caribbean Fishery Management Council and National Marine 
Fisheries Service; Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearings and public meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Caribbean Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
convene public hearings on its draft Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) 
Generic Amendment to the Fishery Management Plans of the U.S. Caribbean 
(draft Generic EFH Amendment). The Council is developing its EFH 
Generic Amendment to address EFH-related requirements of the Magnuson-
Steven Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
    NMFS is developing an EFH recommendation to the Council on its 
Generic EFH Amendment in accordance with the requirements of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act. The NMFS EFH recommendation to the Council will 
involve NMFS' review of, and comments on, the Council's draft Generic 
EFH Amendment. The NMFS recommendation to the Council will be available 
for public distribution on August 31, 1998, and also will be available 
to the public at the Council's hearings. NMFS will hold a public 
hearing on its draft EFH recommendation immediately following the 
Council's public hearing of September 2, 1998, in St. Croix, U.S.V.I.

DATES: Written comments on the Council's draft Generic EFH Amendment 
will be accepted through September 15, 1998. Written comments on the 
NMFS draft EFH recommendations will be accepted through September 15, 
1998. The Council's public hearings will be held on August 31, and on 
September 1, 2, 3, and 8, 1998. NMFS will hold a public hearing on its 
draft EFH recommendation on September 2, 1998 following the Council's 
public hearing in St. Croix, U.S.V.I.

ADDRESSES: The hearings will be held in the U.S.Virgin Islands and in 
Puerto Rico. For specific hearing locations and times, see 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. Copies of the Council's draft Generic EFH 
Amendment can be obtained by calling the Council at (787) 766-5926. 
Written comments on the draft Generic EFH Amendment should be sent to 
the Caribbean Fishery Management Council, 268 Munoz Rivera Avenue, 
Suite 1108, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918-2577; fax (787) 766-6239. 
Copies of the NMFS draft EFH recommendation can be obtained by calling 
the Habitat Conservation Division, NMFS Southeast Region, at (727) 570-
5317. Written comments on the NMFS draft EFH recommendation should be 
addressed to: Habitat Conservation Division, NMFS Southeast Region, 
9721 Executive Center Drive N., St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432. Comments 
should be marked to indicate ``Draft EFH Recommendation to CFMC.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the draft Generic 
EFH Amendment, contact the Caribbean Fishery Management Council, 268 
Munoz Rivera Avenue, Suite 1108, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918-2577; 
telephone (787) 766-5926; fax (787) 766-6239. For information on the 
NMFS draft EFH recommendation, contact the Habitat Conservation 
Division, NMFS Southeast Region, 9721 Executive Center Drive N., St. 
Petersburg, FL 33702-2432; telephone (727) 570-5317.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council will hold six public hearings on 
a draft Generic EFH Amendment addressing EFH in the U.S. Caribbean. The 
Generic EFH Amendment would amend all of the Council's approved and 
implemented fishery management plans (FMPs) to address the EFH 
requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The description and 
identification of EFH for these FMPs is mandated by sections 303(a)(7) 
and 305 (b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The following is a summary of 
the draft Generic EFH Amendment:
    1. EFH is identified and described based on areas where various 
life stages of the 17 selected managed species and the coral complex 
commonly occur. The selected species are: Nassau grouper, Epinephelus 
striatus, red hind, Epinephelus guttatus, coney, Epinephelus fulvus, 
yellowtail, Ocyurus chrysurus, mutton, Lutjanus analis, school master, 
Lutjanus apodus, grey snapper, Lutjanus griseus, silk snapper, Lutjanus 
vivants, butterfly fish, Chaetodon sprattus, squirrel fish, Holocentrus 
ascensionis, white grunt, Haemulon plumber, queen triggerfish, Balistes 
vetula, tilefish, Malacanthus plumieri, redtail parrot fish, Sparisoma 
chrysopterum, trunk fish, Lactophrys quadricornis, spiny lobster, 
Panulirus argus, and queen conch, Strombus gigas.
    2. The selected species represent some of the key species under 
management by the Council. Collectively, these species commonly occur 
throughout all the marine and estuarine waters of the U.S. Caribbean. 
EFH for the remaining managed species will be addressed in future FMP 
amendments, as appropriate.
    3. EFH is defined as everywhere that the above managed species 
commonly occur. Because these species collectively occur in all 
habitats of the U.S. Caribbean, the EFH includes all waters and 
substrates (mud, sand, shell, rock, and associated biological 
communities), including subtidal vegetation (seagrasses and algae) and 
adjacent intertidal vegetation (wetland and mangroves). Therefore, EFH 
includes virtually all marine waters and substrates (mud, shell, rock, 
coral reefs, and associated biological communities) from the shoreline 
to the seaward limit of the EEZ.
    4. Threats to EFH from fishing and nonfishing activities are 
identified.
    5. Whenever possible, options to conserve and enhance EFH are 
provided and research needs are identified.
    6. No management measures and, therefore, no regulations are 
proposed at this time. Fishing-related management measures to minimize 
any identified impacts are deferred to future amendments when the 
Council has the information necessary to decide if the measures are 
practicable.

Hearings

    The Council hearings will be held in the following locations and 
times:
    Monday, August 31, 1998, from 7-10 p.m. at the Legislature Building 
in Cruz Bay, St. John, U.S.V.I.;

[[Page 45799]]

    Tuesday, September 1, 1998, from 7-10 p.m., at the Legislature 
Building in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.;
    Wednesday, September 2, 1998, from 7-10 p.m., at the Conference 
Room of the Caravelle Hotel, in St. Croix. U.S.V.I.;
    Thursday, September 3, 1998, from 7-10 p.m., at the Conference Room 
of the Holiday Inn Hotel in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico (Holiday Inn Hotel 
address is 2701 Highway Number 2, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico 00680);
    Tuesday, September 8, 1998, from 1-3 p.m., at the Casa Alcaldia of 
Fajardo, Fajardo, Puerto Rico; and
    Tuesday, September 8, 1998, from 7-10 p.m., at the Travelodge Hotel 
in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico (Travelodge Hotel address is 1313 Isla Verde 
Avenue, Carolina, Puerto Rico).
    NMFS is developing an EFH recommendation to the Council in 
accordance with the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The NMFS 
EFH recommendation to the Council involves a review of, and comments 
on, the Council's draft Generic EFH Amendment. The NMFS draft 
recommendation to the Council will be available for public distribution 
on August 31, 1998, and will be available at the Council's public 
hearings. Copies may be requested from the NMFS Habitat Conservation 
Division (see ADDRESSES). Written comments on the NMFS draft EFH 
recommendation may be sent to the NMFS Habitat Conservation Division, 
Southeast Region (see ADDRESSES). A public hearing will be held on the 
draft NMFS EFH recommendation immediately following the Council's 
September 2, 1998, public hearing in St. Croix, U.S.V.I.

Special Accommodation

    The hearings are open to the public, and will be conducted in 
English. They are physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
For more information or requests for sign language interpretation or 
other auxiliary aids, please contact Mr. Miguel A. Rolon at the council 
at least 5 days prior to the meeting dates (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT).

    Dated: August 21, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-23015 Filed 8-24-98; 2:48 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F