[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 59 (Monday, March 29, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 14884-14885] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-7652] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 110298A] Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Essential Fish Habitat Generic Amendment to the Fishery Management Plans of the U.S. Caribbean AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of agency decision. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS announces the partial approval of the Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Generic Amendment to the Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) of the U.S. Caribbean (Generic EFH [[Page 14885]] Amendment), as submitted by the Caribbean Fishery Management Council (Council). ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the Generic EFH Amendment (two volumes), which includes an environmental assessment, should be sent to the Caribbean Fishery Management Council, 268 Munoz Rivera Avenue, Suite 1108, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918-2577, Phone: 787-766-5926; FAX: 787-766-6239. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Georgia Cranmore, 727-570-5305. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) requires each regional fishery management council to submit any FMP or amendment to NMFS for review and approval, disapproval, or partial approval. NMFS published guidelines to assist the regional fishery management councils in the description and identification of EFH in FMPs, including identification of adverse impacts from both fishing and non- fishing activities on EFH and identification of actions required to conserve and enhance EFH (62 FR 66531, December 19, 1997). On November 20, 1998, NMFS published a notice of public availability of the Generic EFH amendment, and requested comments (63 FR 64463). A 60-day public comment period on the amendment ended on January 19, 1999. No regulations were published for this amendment. A summary of the comments received and NMFS' responses are provided below. Agency Decision After considering the Council's Generic EFH Amendment and the public comments received, NMFS advised the Council on February 18, 1999, that it had partially approved the amendment. Specifically, NMFS advised that the amendment was approved for its 17 selected species and corals but that EFH designations were lacking for the remaining managed species and approval of these designations was deferred to a subsequent amendment. NMFS advised the Council that as soon as possible it should identify and describe EFH for the remaining species or, alternatively, identify ecological relationships between the selected species and the remaining species in the FMPs' fishery management units in order to justify using the selected species as representatives. NMFS indicated that it would work with the Council to obtain necessary additional scientific information (and noted efforts underway) that will assist the Council in its completion of these EFH designations in the near future. Comments and Responses During the comment period on the Generic EFH Amendment, NMFS received two written comments. Comment: Because a number of the species affected by the Generic EFH Amendment, including queen conch, are distributed both inside and outside U.S. waters in the Caribbean, cooperation with other governments in that region will be necessary to achieve effective conservation and management. Response: NMFS agrees with this statement and plans to continue to assist in efforts to develop Caribbean-wide management plans for these species. Comment: A commenter recommended disapproval of the fishing gear impact sections of the amendment. Although the commenter recognized that additional research is needed to fully evaluate effects of fishing gear on EFH, the commenter believes action must be taken now to mitigate adverse impacts on coral and other habitats. The commenter provided specific recommendations for action on limiting the use of traps and nets for the reef fish, spiny lobster and coral FMPs. Response: NMFS believes that the Council could not have completed the biological and socioeconomic analyses needed to support management measures to limit fishing gear and still meet the mandated time frame of the EFH amendment. NMFS notes that the Council plans to address gear effects during 1999 and is preparing background documents for options regarding a trap reduction program for the reef fish and spiny lobster fisheries. NMFS believes that the Council's EFH amendment adequately addresses fishing impacts on EFH and provides the basis for future actions when more information is available. Comment: A commenter requested that the non-fishing related impact portion of the EFH amendment be disapproved because it does not include procedures for evaluating potential impacts of state and Federal permit applicants on a case-by-case basis. The commenter provided recommendations on procedures for consultations with other agencies on EFH, including the need for thorough public review of the process and its conclusions. Response: The Magnuson-Stevens Act does not require the Councils to develop consultation procedures. NMFS has published procedures for Federal and state agencies and the Councils to use to coordinate, consult, or provide recommendations on Federal or state activities that may adversely impact EFH (50 CFR Part 600, Subpart K). Councils are encouraged to develop their own internal procedures for the development of Council recommendations but this is not a required element of their EFH amendments. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: March 23, 1999. Andrew A. Rosenberg, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 99-7652 Filed 3-26-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F