[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 69 (Monday, April 13, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16846-16850]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-8364]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XO53
Caribbean Fishery Management Council; Scoping Meetings
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of Scoping Meetings.
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SUMMARY: The Caribbean Fishery Management Council will hold scoping
meetings to obtain input from fishers, the general public, and the
local agencies representatives on the Document for Amendment 2 to the
Fishery Management Plan for the Queen Conch Fishery of Puerto Rico and
the U.S. Virgin Islands and Amendment X to the Reef Fish Fishery
Management Plan of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (Including
the Final Environmental Impact Statement, Regulatory Impact Review, and
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis).
DATES AND ADDRESSES: The scoping meetings will be held on the following
dates and locations:
April 27, 2009, DoubleTree by Hilton San Juan, De Diego Avenue, San
Juan, Puerto Rico
April 28, 2009, Holiday Inn and Tropical Casino Ponce, 3315 Ponce
By Pass, Ponce, Puerto Rico
April 29, 2009, Sal[oacute]n B, Centro de Usos M[uacute]ltiples,
Doctor L[oacute]pez and Cel[iacute]s Aguilera St., Fajardo, Puerto Rico
May 4, 2009, Mayaguez Resort and Casino, Rd. 104, Km. 0.3,
Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
May 6, 2009, Community Center, Frenchtown, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin
Islands
May 7, 2009, The Florence Williams Public Library, 1122 King
Street, Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
All meetings will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Caribbean Fishery Management Council,
268 Mu[ntilde]oz Rivera Avenue, Suite 1108, San Juan, Puerto Rico
00918-1920, telephone (787) 766-5926.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Caribbean Fishery Management Council
will hold Scoping meetings to receive public input on the following
management alternatives:
4.0 MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES
The Management Alternatives for setting Annual Catch Limits (ACLs)
for 4 species and species groups are presented below. The species
groups for which Annual Catch Limits have to be set by 2010 are shown
in the table below and include the Snapper Unit 1, Grouper Unit 4,
parrotfish and queen conch. One species not discussed in the actions is
Nassau grouper, which is undergoing overfishing and therefore, would
require an ACL by 2010. No action is discussed for Nassau grouper
because current regulations exist which prohibit the take of Nassau
grouper in the U.S. Caribbean (both from the EEZ and state waters).
Because of this prohibition on take, no further action is required to
end or prevent overfishing. Similar to Nassau grouper, queen conch
management alternatives are only discussed for the fishery in St.
Croix. This is a result of current regulations in the U.S. Caribbean
which prohibit the take of queen conch in the EEZ off Puerto Rico and
St. Thomas/St. John.
Other actions among the Management Alternatives include methods for
modifying the reef fish FMU, setting recreational ACLs, methods for
accounting for uncertainty, alternative methods for setting ACLs based
on proxies for reducing fishing mortality, accountability measures,
monitoring and enforcement, permits, and allowable fishing gear.
4.1 Action 1: Amending the Stock Complexes in the Reef Fish Fishery
Management Unit
Alternative 1. No Action. Do not change the stock complexes in the
Reef Fish FMU
Alternative 2. Modify the FMU by:
Sub-alternative A. Separating the Parrotfish Unit into 2 complexes.
Parrotfish Unit 1 would include princess, queen, redfin, redtail,
stoplight, redband, and striped parrotfishes and Parrotfish Unit 2
would include blue, midnight, and rainbow parrotfishes
Sub alternative B. Separate Grouper Unit 4 into 2 complexes and add
black grouper to Grouper Unit 4. Grouper Unit 4 would include
yellowfin, red, tiger, and black grouper and Grouper Unit 5 would
include yellowedge and misty grouper.
Sub alternative C. Add cardinal snapper (Pristipomoides
macrophthalmus) to Snapper Unit 2 (with the queen snapper) and move
wenchman (Pristopomoides aquilonaris) into Snapper Unit 1.
Alternative 3. Examine reef fish FMU and reassign species not
targeted, retained, sold, or used for personal consumption as ecosystem
component species.
[[Page 16847]]
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Complex Current Proposed
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Snapper Unit 1 Silk Silk
Black Black
Blackfin Blackfin
Vermilion Vermilion
Wenchman (Pristopomoides aquilonaris)
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Snapper Unit 2 Queen Queen
Wenchman (Pristopomoides aquilonaris) Cardinal (Pristopomoides
macrophthalmus)
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Snapper Unit 3 Gray Gray
Lane Lane
Mutton Mutton
Dog Dog
Schoolmaster Schoolmaster
Mahogany Mahogany
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Snapper Unit 4 Yellowtail Snapper Yellowtail Snapper
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Grouper Unit 3 Red hind Red hind
Coney Coney
Rock hind Rock hind
Graysby Graysby
Creole-fish
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Grouper Unit 4 Yellowfin Yellowfin
Red Red
Tiger Tiger
Yellowedge Black
Misty
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Grouper Unit 5 ...................................... Yellowedge Misty
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Parrotfish Blue Princess
Midnight Queen
Princess Redfin
Queen Redtail
Rainbow Stoplight
Redfin Redband
Redtail Striped
Stoplight
Redband
Striped
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Parrotfish Unit 2 ...................................... Blue
Midnight
Rainbow
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4.2 Action 2: Annual Catch Limits for queen conch (Strombus gigas) off
St. Croix
Alternative 1. Do not set an ACL for queen conch off St. Croix
Alternative 2. Set the ACL for queen conch off St. Croix equal to:
Sub alternative A. Zero for the EEZ and do not establish a state
water ACL.
Sub alternative B. The average landings during 1994-2006 = 90,000
pounds. The ACL would include both state and federal water landings.
Sub alternative C. The current allowable catch level established by
the U.S.V.I. government for St. Croix = 50,000 pounds. The ACL would
include both state and federal water landings. The season for queen
conch would run from November 1 - June 30, or until such time the ACL
is met; additionally, there would be a 200 conch per boat limit.
Sub alternative D. Zero in the EEZ. The state waters ACL would be
set equal to the current allowable catch level established by the
U.S.V.I. government for St. Croix = 50,000 pounds.
4.3 Action 3: Annual Catch Limits for Parrotfish Unit 1 and Parrotfish
Unit 2
Alternative 1. No Action.
Sub Alternative A. Do not set an ACL for Parrotfish Unit 1 or
Parrotfish Unit 2.
Sub Alternative B. Do not establish an ACL for Parrotfish Unit 2,
but include Parrotfish Unit 2 in the ACL for Parrotfish Unit 1.
Alternative 2. For Parrotfish Unit 2:
Sub alternative A. Set the ACL equal to zero in the EEZ and do not
establish a state water ACL but rely on the data collection program
described later in this document and revisit ACL for parrotfish 5 years
after implementation.
Sub alternative B. Set the ACL equal to zero in the EEZ and
recommend to Puerto Rico and the U.S.V.I. that the ACL be set equal to
zero in state waters.
Alternative 3. Set the ACL for Parrotfish Unit 1 off Puerto Rico
equal to:
Sub alternative A. Zero for the EEZ and do not establish a state
water ACL, but rely on the data collection program described later in
this document and revisit ACL for parrotfish five years after
implementation.
Sub alternative B. The average landings during 1999-2006 = 80,000
pounds (ACLG February 2009 recommendation)
Sub alternative C. The average landings during 1994-2006 multiplied
[[Page 16848]]
by an uncertainty scalar (see Action 7 for uncertainty scalar).
Alternative 4. Set the ACL for Parrotfish Unit 1 off St. Thomas/St.
John equal to:
Sub alternative A. Zero for the EEZ and do not establish a state
water ACL, but rely on the data collection program described later in
this document and revisit ACL for parrotfish five years after
implementation.
Sub alternative B. The average landings during 1999-2006 = 50,000
pounds (ACLG February 2009 recommendation)
Sub alternative C. The average landings during 1994-2006 multiplied
by an uncertainty scalar (see Action 7 for uncertainty scalar).
Alternative 5. Set the ACL for Parrotfish Unit1 off St. Croix equal
to:
Sub alternative A. Zero for the EEZ and do not establish a state
water ACL, but rely on the data collection program described later in
this document and revisit ACL for parrotfish five years after
implementation.
Sub alternative B. The average landings during 1999-2006 = 250,000
pounds (ACLG February 2009 recommendation)
Sub alternative C. The average landings during 1994-2006 multiplied
by an uncertainty scalar (see Action 7 for uncertainty scalar).
Sub alternative D. The average landings during 1976-1990 = 82,000
pounds (discussed at the ACLG and SSCFebruary 2009 meeting).
Sub alternative E. The average landings during 1983-1990 = 82,000
pounds (SEFSC recommended time frame for pre-gillnet fishery).
Alternative 6. Set the ACL for Parrotfish Unit1 in the U.S.
Caribbean equal to:
Sub alternative A. Zero for the EEZ and do not establish a state
water ACL, but rely on the data collection program described later in
this document and revisit ACL for parrotfish five years after
implementation.
Sub alternative B. The average landings during 1999-2006 = 380,000
pounds
Sub alternative C. The average landings during 1994-2006 multiplied
by an uncertainty scalar (see Action 7 for uncertainty scalar).
4.4 Action 4: Annual Catch Limits for Grouper Unit 4
Alternative 1. No Action. Do not set an ACL for Grouper Unit 4
Alternative 2. Set the ACL for Grouper Unit 4 off Puerto Rico equal
to:
Sub alternative A. Zero in the EEZ and do not establish a state
water ACL, but rely on the data collection program described later in
this document and revisit ACL for Grouper Unit 4 five years after
implementation.
Sub alternative B. The average corrected landings for identified
Grouper Unit 4 species during 1994-2006 = 10,000 pounds. The ACL would
include both state and federal water landings.
Sub alternative C. The average corrected landings for identified
Grouper Unit 4 species during 1994-2006 plus the average proportional
corrected landings estimate for Grouper Unit 4 species landed in the
generic ``Sea Basses'' category during 1994-2006 = 15,000 pounds.
Sub alternative D. A sufficient level of catch for collecting
needed data on the fishery. This catch level would be established by
SEFSC, in cooperation with Puerto Rico, for purposes of scientific data
collection.
Alternative 3. Set the ACL for Grouper off St. Thomas/St. John at:
Sub alternative A. Zero for the EEZ off St. Thomas/St. John and do
not establish a state water ACL, but rely on the data collection
program described later in this document and revisit ACL for Grouper
Unit 4 five years after implementation.
Sub alternative B. The average landings during 1994 - 2006 for all
grouper species = 61,000 pounds as part of a grouper ACL
Sub alternative C. The average landings during 1994 - 2006 for all
grouper species multiplied by an uncertainty scalar (see Action 7 for
uncertainty scalar).
Alternative 4. Set the ACL for grouper off St. Croix at:
Sub alternative A. Zero for the EEZ off St. Croix and do not
establish a state water ACL, but rely on the data collection program
described later in this document and revisit ACL for Grouper Unit 4
five years after implementation.
Sub alternative B. The average landings during 1994 - 2006 for all
grouper species = 32,000 pounds as part of a grouper ACL
Sub alternative C. The average landings during 1994 - 2006 for all
grouper species multiplied by an uncertainty scalar (see Action 7 for
uncertainty scalar).
Alternative 5. Set the ACL for grouper in the U.S. Caribbean equal
to:
Sub alternative A. Zero for the EEZ and do not establish a state
water ACL, but rely on the data collection program described later in
this document and revisit ACL for parrotfish five years after
implementation.
Sub alternative B. The average landings during 1999-2006 = 203,000
pounds
Sub alternative C. The average landings during 1994-2006 multiplied
by an uncertainty scalar (see Action 7 for uncertainty scalar).
4.5 Action 5: Annual Catch Limits for Snapper Unit 1
Alternative 1. No Action. Do not set an ACL for Snapper Unit 1
Alternative 2. Set the ACL for Snapper Unit 1 off Puerto Rico equal
to:
Sub alternative A. Zero for the EEZ and do not establish a state
waters ACL, but rely on the data collection program described later in
this document and revisit ACL for Snapper Unit 1 five years after
implementation.
Sub alternative B. The average corrected landings for identified
Snapper Unit 1 species during 1999-2006 = 300,000 pounds
Sub alternative C. The average corrected landings for identified
silk snapper during 1999-2006 = 200,000 pounds for silk snapper. Silk
snapper would be the indicator species for Snapper Unit 1.
Sub alternative D. The Average landings for 1999-2006 for the
current Snapper Unit 1 plus the average landings for wenchman for 1999-
2006 = 300,000 pounds
Sub alternative E. The Average landings for 1994-2006 for the
current Snapper Unit 1 plus the average landings for wenchman for 1994-
2006 = 355,000 pounds
Sub alternative F. The average 1999-2006 landings for identified
Snapper Unit 1 species plus the average landings for wenchman during
1999-2006 plus the average proportional corrected landings estimate for
Snapper Unit 1 species landed in the generic ``Snapper'' category
during 1999-2006 = 316,000 pounds.
Sub alternative G. The average 1994-2006 landings for identified
Snapper Unit 1 species plus the average landings for wenchman during
1994-2006 plus the average proportional corrected landings estimate for
Snapper Unit 1 species landed in the generic ``Snapper'' category
during 1994-2006 = 374,000 pounds.
Sub alternative H. 1.2 times the value selected from sub
alternative B-G.
Alternative 3. Set the ACL for snapper off St. Thomas/St. John at:
Sub alternative A. Zero for the EEZ off St. Thomas/St. John and do
not establish a state waters ACL, but rely on the data collection
program described later in this document and revisit ACL for Snapper
Unit 1 five years after implementation.
[[Page 16849]]
Sub alternative B. The average landings during 1994 - 2006 for all
snapper species =160,000 pounds as part of a Snapper ACL
Sub alternative C. The average landings during 1994 - 2006 for all
snapper species multiplied by an uncertainty scalar (see Action 7 for
uncertainty scalar).
Alternative 4. Set the ACL for snapper off St. Croix at:
Sub alternative A. Zero for the EEZ off St. Croix and do not
establish a state waters ACL, but rely on the data collection program
described later in this document and revisit ACL for Snapper Unit 1
five years after implementation.
Sub alternative B. The average landings during 1994 - 2006 for all
snapper species =112,000 pounds
Sub alternative C. The average landings during 1994 - 2006 for all
grouper species multiplied by an uncertainty scalar (see Action 7 for
uncertainty scalar).
Alternative 5. Set the ACL for snapper in the U.S. Caribbean equal
to:
Sub alternative A. Zero for the EEZ off St. Croix and do not
establish a state waters ACL, but rely on the data collection program
described later in this document and revisit ACL for Snapper Unit 1
five years after implementation.
Sub alternative B. The average landings during 1994 - 2006 for all
snapper species =1,529,000 pounds
Sub alternative C. The average landings during 1994 - 2006 for all
snapper species multiplied by an uncertainty scalar (see Action 7 for
uncertainty scalar).
4.6 Action 6: Annual Catch Limits for the Recreational Sector
Alternative 1. No Action. Do not set ACLs for the Recreational
Sector
Alternative 2. Use Puerto Rico recreational average landings data
from MRFSS during 2000-2007 to set recreational ACLs in the EEZ and
state waters of Puerto Rico for Snapper Unit 1, Grouper Unit 4, and
Parrotfishes. Use the proportion of Puerto Rican recreational landings
relative to the total of recreational and commercial Puerto Rican
landings to set an ACL proxy in the EEZ and state waters for the USVI
Recreational Fishery. For the USVI, proportions would be assigned to
fish family (e.g., groupers, snappers, parrotfishes), until sufficient
landings data are available to specify ACLs by unit. ACLs would equal
zero for queen conch in the EEZ off St. Thomas/St. John and Puerto
Rico; the recreational ACL for queen conch in the EEZ off St. Croix
would be XXX (will depend on Council's choice for commercial ACL in St.
Croix). All island based recreational ACLs for Nassau grouper would
equal zero.
Alternative 3. Use Puerto Rico recreational average landings data
from MRFSS during 2000-2007 to set recreational ACLs in the EEZ and
state waters for Snapper Unit 1, Grouper Unit 4, and Parrotfishes. Use
the proportion of Puerto Rican recreational landings relative to the
total of recreational and commercial Puerto Rican landings to set an
ACL proxy in the EEZ.
Alternative 4. Do not establish a recreational ACL in the USVI EEZ
and state waters, but use the Commercial ACL for each unit or family as
a proxy for the ACL for all sectors in the fishery.
Alternative 5. Set the recreational ACL in the USVI equal to 10% of
each islands commercial ACL.
Alternative 6. Establish a separate charter boat sector ACL based
on MRFSS data for Puerto Rico.
4.7 Action 7: Accounting for Uncertainty
Alternative 1. No Action. Set the ACL at the level specified in the
previous actions
Alternative 2. In the USVI, for ACLs based on average catch, use:
Sub alternative A. 90% of the specified level in the previous
actions to adjust for uncertainty.
Sub alternative B. 75% of the specified level in the previous
actions to adjust for uncertainty (recommendation from the national SSC
meeting).
Sub alternative C. 70% of the specified level in the previous
actions to adjust for uncertainty.
Sub Alternative D. 50% of the specified level in the previous
actions to adjust for uncertainty (recommendation from the national SSC
meeting).
Alternative 3. In Puerto Rico, use:
Sub alternative A. 82% of the specified level in the previous
actions to adjust for uncertainty (based on the ratio of the reported
landings versus the 85% CI for calculated landings in Puerto Rico
across all species groups by year).
Sub alternative B. 78% of the specified level in the previous
actions to adjust for uncertainty (based on the ratio of the reported
landings versus the 90% CI for calculated landings in Puerto Rico
across all species groups by year).
Sub alternative C. 75% of the specified level in the previous
actions to adjust for uncertainty (based on the ratio of the reported
landings versus the 95% CI for calculated landings in Puerto Rico
across all species groups by year).
4.8 Action 8: Alternative Methods for Reducing Fishing Mortality and
Establishing ACL Proxies
Alternative 1. No Action. Do not implement alternative methods for
reducing fishing mortality by establishing proxies for ACLs
Alternative 2. Extend Area Closures in the U.S. Caribbean EEZ to
account for 40% of fishable bottom in the EEZ
Alternative 3. Extend Area Closures in the U.S. Caribbean EEZ to
account for 30% of fishable bottom in the EEZ
Alternative 4. Extend Area Closures in the U.S. Caribbean EEZ to
account for XX% of fishable bottom in the EEZ as determined by the
SEFSC
Alternative 5. Work with fishermen to develop measure to reduce
fishing effort towards F=Fmsy.
4.9 Action 9: Permits
Alternative 1. No Action. Do not establish a permit system for
fishing in the EEZ
Alternative 2. Require a federal permit for fishing in the EEZ.
Sub Alternative A. Require a federal permit for recreational
fishing in the EEZ.
Sub Alternative B. Require a federal permit for commercial fishing
in the EEZ.
Sub Alternative C. Require the use of trap tags for all (lobster
and fish) trap fisheries in the EEZ.
Sub Alternative D. Require a federal permit for charter boats
fishing in the EEZ.
Alternative 3. Require a federal permit to sell Council managed
species.
Alternative 4. Require a federal permit to purchase Council managed
species.
4.10 Action 10: Monitoring and Enforcement of Annual Catch Limits
Alternative 1. No Action. Set the ACL at the level specified in the
previous actions.
Alternative 2. Require any person landing Council managed species
to submit an appropriate data collection form, as developed by the
SEFSC or the Council's SSC, after every trip with enough detail such
that CPUE per species can be calculated for each gear.
Alternative 3. Require any federal permit holder to submit an
appropriate data collection form, as developed by the SEFSC or the
Council's SSC, after every trip with enough detail such that CPUE per
species can be calculated for each gear.
Alternative 4. Develop an updated catch report form in coordination
with the SEFSC, local and territorial governments, fishermen, and the
Council's SSC which has enough detail
[[Page 16850]]
such that CPUE per species can be calculated for each gear.
4.11 Action 11: Accountability Measures
Alternative 1. No Action. Do not establish Accountability Measures.
Alternative 2. Implement accountability measures for exceeding an
ACL based on:
Sub alternative A. A single year of landings/catch.
Sub alternative B. A 2-year average of landings/catch.
Sub alternative C. A 3-year average of landings/catch.
Alternative 3. Reduce the fishing season in the following year by a
length determined to be appropriate to account for exceeding the ACL.
Alternative 4. Increase the size of closed areas as identified in
Action 9 by an appropriate amount to account for exceeding the ACL.
Alternative 5. For queen conch exceedences in St. Croix, close the
EEZ to queen conch harvest.
Alternative 6. Reduce the ACL in the subsequent fishing year by an
amount equal to an overage in the previous year.
4.12 Action 12: Allowable Gear for Reef Fish
Alternative 1. No Action. Do not alter allowable gear in the U.S.
Caribbean
Alternative 2. Review the list of allowable gear under 50 CFR
600.725
4.13 Action 13: Establish Framework Measures for ACLs and AMs in the
Reef Fish FMP.
Alternative 1. No Action. Do not establish a framework for ACLs and
AMs
Alternative 2. Establish a framework procedure for setting and
adjusting ACLs and AMs
Special Accommodations
These meetings are physically accessible to people with
disabilities. For more information or request for sign language
interpretation and other auxiliary aids, please contact Mr. Miguel A.
Rol[oacute]n, Executive Director, Caribbean Fishery Management Council,
268 Mu[ntilde]oz Rivera Avenue, Suite 1108, San Juan, Puerto Rico,
00918-1920, telephone (787) 766-5926, at least five days prior to the
meeting date.
Dated: April 8, 2009
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-8364 Filed 4-10-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S