[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 51 (Monday, March 17, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14670-14672]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-05783]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD170


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 (Council) is 
transitioning from species specific fishery management to island-
specific fisheries management for the exclusive economic zones of 
Puerto Rico, St. Thomas/St. John and St. Croix separately. This 
transition is in response to the numerous requests received by the 
Council to consider the differences among the islands in the U.S. 
Caribbean. These differences include preference for certain species of 
fish, ways in which fish species are harvested and other cultural and 
socio economic factors such as market availability of importance in 
managing fisheries. The scoping document includes actions and 
alternatives for each island to make changes to the existing fishery 
management units by including or excluding species, establish or modify 
management reference points to determine the status of the stocks, and 
identify and describe essential fish habitat for any new species 
considered for federal management. These actions and alternatives are 
presented for each island specific fishery management plan in the 
scoping document that is available at the Council's Web page: 
www.caribbeanfmc.com.

Puerto Rico FMP

    Action 1. Identify fishery management units (FMUs) to be included 
in the Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan (FMP).
    Alternative 1. No action. The Puerto Rico FMP is composed of all 
species within the FMUs historically managed under the Spiny Lobster 
FMP, Reef Fish FMP, Queen Conch FMP, and the Corals and Reef Associated 
Plants and Invertebrates FMP.
    Alternative 2. Include in the Puerto Rico FMP species with 
available landings information from the Southeast Fisheries Science 
Center. In addition, prohibited harvest species in the current Reef 
Fish FMP, Queen Conch FMP, and the Corals and Reef Associated Plants 
and Invertebrates FMP will be included.

[[Page 14671]]

    Alternative 3. Include in the Puerto Rico FMP only those species 
with annual average landings equal to or greater than a certain number 
of pounds (X pounds) yet to be determined. In addition, prohibited 
harvest species in the current Reef Fish FMP, Queen Conch FMP, and the 
Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates FMP will be 
included.
    Alternative 4. Include species in the Puerto Rico FMP that meet a 
predetermined set of criteria established in consultation with the 
Southeast Fisheries Science Center and the Caribbean Council Scientific 
and Statistical Committee.
    Action 2. Establish management reference points for FMUs in the 
Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan (FMP).
    Alternative 1. No action. Retain the existing management reference 
points or proxies for FMUs currently managed by the Council.
    Alternative 2. Revise existing management reference points or 
proxies for FMUs managed by the Council.
    Alternative 3. Establish management reference points or proxies for 
new species in the Puerto Rico FMP.
    Action 3. Identify/describe essential fish habitat (EFH) for new 
species in the Puerto Rico FMP.
    Alternative 1. No Action. Do not identify essential fish habitat 
for new species added to the Puerto Rico FMP.
    Alternative 2. Describe and identify EFH according to functional 
relationships between life history stages of federally managed species 
and U.S. Caribbean marine and estuarine habitats.
    Alternative 3. Designate habitat areas of particular concern in the 
Puerto Rico FMPs based on confirmed spawning locations and on areas or 
sites identified as having particular ecological importance to managed 
species.

St.Thomas/St. John FMP

    Action 1. Identify fishery management units (FMUs) to be included 
in the St. Thomas/St. John Fishery Management Plan (FMP).
    Alternative 1. No action. The St. Thomas/St. John FMP is composed 
of all species within the FMUs historically managed under the Spiny 
Lobster FMP, Reef Fish FMP, Queen Conch FMP, and the Corals and Reef 
Associated Plants and Invertebrates FMP.
    Alternative 2. Include in the St. Thomas/St. John FMP species with 
available landings information from the Southeast Fisheries Science 
Center. In addition, prohibited harvest species in the current Reef 
Fish FMP, Queen Conch FMP, and the Corals and Reef Associated Plants 
and Invertebrates FMP will be included.
    Alternative 3. Include in the St. Thomas/St. John FMP only those 
species with annual average landings equal to or greater than a certain 
number of pounds (X pounds) yet to be determined. In addition, 
prohibited harvest species in the current Reef Fish FMP, Queen Conch 
FMP, and the Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates FMP 
will be included.
    Alternative 4. Include species in the St. Thomas/St. John FMP that 
meet a predetermined set of criteria established in consultation with 
the Southeast Fisheries Science Center and the Caribbean Council 
Scientific and Statistical Committee.
    Action 2. Establish management reference points for FMUs in the St. 
Thomas/St. John Fishery Management Plan (FMP).
    Alternative 1. No action. Retain the existing management reference 
points or proxies for FMUs currently managed by the Council.
    Alternative 2. Revise existing management reference points or 
proxies for FMUs managed by the Council.
    Alternative 3. Establish management reference points or proxies for 
new species added to the St. Thomas/St. John FMP.
    Action 3. Identify/describe essential fish habitat (EFH) for new 
species in the St. Thomas/St. John FMP.
    Alternative 1. No Action. Do not identify essential fish habitat 
for new species added to the St. Thomas/St. John FMP.
    Alternative 2. Describe and identify EFH according to functional 
relationships between life history stages of federally managed species 
and U.S. Caribbean marine and estuarine habitats.
    Alternative 3. Designate habitat areas of particular concern in the 
St. Thomas/St. John FMPs based on confirmed spawning locations and on 
areas or sites identified as having particular ecological importance to 
managed species.

St. Croix FMP

    Action 1. Identify fishery management units (FMUs) to be included 
in the St. Croix Fishery Management Plan (FMP).
    Alternative 1. No action. The St. Croix FMP is composed of all 
species within the FMUs historically managed under the Spiny Lobster 
FMP, Reef Fish FMP, Queen Conch FMP, and the Corals and Reef Associated 
Plants and Invertebrates FMP.
    Alternative 2. Include in the St. Croix FMP species with available 
landings information from the Southeast Fisheries Science Center. In 
addition, prohibited harvest species in the Reef Fish FMP, and the 
Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates FMP will be 
included.
    Alternative 3. Include in the St. Croix FMP only those species with 
annual average landings equal to or greater than a certain number of 
pounds (X pounds) yet to be determined. In addition, prohibited harvest 
species in the current Reef Fish FMP and the Corals and Reef Associated 
Plants and Invertebrates FMP will be included.
    Alternative 4. Include species in the St. Croix FMP that meet a 
predetermined set of criteria established in consultation with the 
Southeast Fisheries Science Center and the Caribbean Council Scientific 
and Statistical Committee
    Action 2. Establish management reference points for FMUs in the St. 
Croix Fishery Management Plan (FMP).
    Alternative 1. No action. Retain the existing management reference 
points or proxies for FMUs currently managed by the Council.
    Alternative 2. Revise existing management reference points or 
proxies for FMUs managed by the Council.
    Alternative 3. Establish management reference points or proxies for 
new species added to the St. Croix FMP.
    Action 3. Identify/describe essential fish habitat (EFH) for new 
species in the St. Croix FMP.
    Alternative 1. No Action. Do not identify essential fish habitat 
for new species added to the St. Croix FMP.
    Alternative 2. Describe and identify EFH according to functional 
relationships between life history stages of federally managed species 
and U.S. Caribbean marine and estuarine habitats.
    Alternative 3. Designate habitat areas of particular concern in the 
St. Croix FMPs based on confirmed spawning locations and on areas or 
sites identified as having particular ecological importance to managed 
species.
    Dates and Addresses:

In Puerto Rico

    April 7, 2014--7 p.m.-10 p.m.--Parador and Restaurant El Buen 
Caf[eacute], 381, Rd. 2, Hatillo, Puerto Rico.
    April 8, 2014--7 p.m.-10 p.m.--Mayaguez Holiday Inn, 2701 Hostos 
Avenue, Mayag[uuml]ez, Puerto Rico.
    April 9, 2014--7 p.m.-10 p.m.--Asociaci[oacute]n de Pescadores de 
Playa H[uacute]cares, Carr. 3, Km. 65.9, Naguabo, Puerto Rico.
    April 10, 2014--7 p.m.-10 p.m.--DoubleTree Hilton Hotel, De Diego 
Avenue, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

[[Page 14672]]

    April 14, 2014--7 p.m.-10 p.m.--Holiday Inn Ponce & Tropical 
Casino, 3315 Ponce By Pass, Ponce, Puerto Rico.

In the U.S. Virgin Islands

    April 7, 2014--7 p.m.-10 p.m.--Windward Passage Hotel, Veterans 
Drive, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
    April 8, 2014--7 p.m.-10 p.m.--The Buccaneer Hotel, Estate Shoys, 
Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Caribbean Fishery Management Council, 
270 Mu[ntilde]oz Rivera Avenue, Suite 401, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918-
1903, telephone: (787) 766-5926.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Caribbean Fishery Management Council 
will hold scoping meetings to receive public input on the management 
options mentioned above. The complete document is available at: 
www.caribbeanfmc.com or you may contact Ms. Livia Montalvo at [email protected], or the Council office at (787) 766-5926 to 
obtain copies.
    Written comments can be sent to the Council not later than April 
15th, 2014, by regular mail to the address below, or via email to 
[email protected].

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, 
270 Mu[ntilde]oz Rivera Avenue, Suite 401, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 
00918-1903, telephone (787) 766-5926, at least 5 days prior to the 
meeting date.

    Dated: March 12, 2014.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-05783 Filed 3-14-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P