[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 141 (Friday, July 22, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47760-47762]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-17380]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE751


Caribbean Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearings on Amendments to the U.S. Caribbean 
Reef Fish, Spiny Lobster, and Corals and Reef Associated Plants and 
Invertebrates Fishery Management Plans: Timing of Accountability 
Measure-Based Closures in the U.S. Caribbean Draft Document.

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SUMMARY: The Caribbean Fishery Management Council will hold public 
hearings on the Amendments to the U.S. Caribbean Reef Fish, Spiny 
Lobster, and Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates 
Fishery Management Plans: Timing of Accountability Measure-Based 
Seasonal Closures Including Draft Environmental Assessment: Amendment 8 
to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico 
and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Amendment 7 to the Fishery Management Plan 
for the Spiny Lobster of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, 
Amendment 6 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Corals and Reef 
Associated Plants and Invertebrates of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin 
Islands. The complete document is available upon request and can be 
found at the Caribbean Council's Web site: www.caribbeanfmc.com.

DATES and ADDRESSES: The dates and locations for the public hearings 
are:
    August 15, 2016, Doubletree Hotel, De Diego Avenue, Condado, San 
Juan, Puerto Rico, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
    August 17, 2016, Mayag[uuml]ez Holiday Inn Hotel, Mayag[uuml]ez 
Holiday Inn, 2701 Hostos Avenue, Mayag[uuml]ez, Puerto Rico, from 7 
p.m. to 9 p.m.

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 proposed actions are to modify the 
timing for the application of accountability measures in the Reef Fish, 
Spiny Lobster, and Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates 
Fishery Management Plans of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 
The Amendment contains the following Actions and Alternatives:
    ACTION 1: Modify the timing for the implementation of AM-based 
closures in the U.S. Caribbean EEZ.
    Alternative 1: No Action. Continue AM-based closures resulting from 
an annual catch limit (ACL) overage, ending on December 31st of the 
closure year, and extending backward into the closure year for the 
number of days necessary to achieve the required reduction in landings.
    Alternative 2 (Preferred): Accountability measure-based closures 
resulting from an ACL overage would end on September 30th of the 
closure year and extend backward toward the beginning of the year for 
the number of days necessary to achieve the required reduction in 
landings. The September 30th closure date would apply to all fishery 
management units (FMUs) for each of the Puerto Rico commercial and 
recreational sectors, St. Thomas/St. John, St. Croix, and Caribbean-
wide. If Alternative 5 of this Action is also chosen for an FMU that 
includes species with seasonal closures in federal waters, closure 
dates for that FMU would be governed by Alternative 5. If, for any of 
the FMUs covered by Alternative 2, the number of available days running 
from September 30th backward to the beginning of the year is not enough 
to achieve the required reduction in landings, then the additional days 
needed would be captured by extending the closure forward toward the 
end of the year, beginning on October 1st and continuing for the number 
of days needed to achieve the required reduction.
    Alternative 3: Accountability measure-based closures resulting from 
an ACL overage would begin on January 1st of the closure year and 
extend forward into the year for the number of days necessary to 
achieve the required reduction in landings. The January 1st closure 
start date would apply to all FMUs for each of Puerto Rico commercial 
and recreational sectors, St. Thomas/St. John, St. Croix, and 
Caribbean-wide. If Alternative 5 of this Action is also chosen for an 
FMU that includes species with seasonal closures in federal waters, 
closure dates for that FMU would be governed by Alternative 5.
    Alternative 4: Establish a fixed fishing closure end date for the 
implementation of AMs for each FMU by island management area and, in 
the case of Puerto Rico, fishing sector (A. Puerto Rico (I. Commercial 
sector [The Puerto Rico spiny lobster FMU is addressed under the 
Commercial Sector sub-alternatives. This is because the spiny lobster 
ACL is governed by commercial landings. If the AM is triggered due to a 
Puerto Rico spiny lobster ACL overage, the commercial and recreational 
fishing season is reduced.] II. Recreational sector), B. St. Thomas/St. 
John, C. St. Croix, and D. Caribbean-wide), based on the highest or 
lowest average monthly landings of the most recent three years of 
available data (2012, 2013, 2014). A different closure date may be 
chosen for each FMU for each island management area and Puerto Rico 
fishing sector. The closure date will end on the last day of the 
identified month and extend backward toward the beginning of the year 
for the number of days necessary to achieve the required reduction in 
landings. If, for any FMU in any year, the number of available days 
running from the closure implementation date backward toward the 
beginning of the year is not enough to achieve the required reduction 
in landings, then the additional days

[[Page 47761]]

needed would be captured by extending the closure forward toward the 
end of the year and continuing for the number of days needed to achieve 
the required reduction.
A. Puerto Rico
I. Commercial
    Sub-Alternative 4a. Closure to end the last day of the month that 
has the highest landings based on monthly average landings through 
time, using 2012-2014 as the most recent three years of available 
landings data.
    Sub-Alternative 4b. Closure to end the last day of the month with 
lowest landings based on monthly average landings through time, using 
2012-2014 as the most recent three years of available landings data.
II. Recreational
    Sub-Alternative 4c. Closure to end the last day of the second month 
that has the highest landings based on bi-monthly average landings 
through time, using 2012-14 as the most recent three years of available 
landings data.
    Sub-Alternative 4d. Closure to end the last day of the second month 
with lowest landings based on bi-monthly average landings through time, 
using 2012-14 as the most recent three years of available landings 
data.
B. St. Thomas/St. John, USVI (All Sectors)
    Sub-Alternative 4e. Closure to end the last day of the month that 
has the highest landings based on monthly average landings through 
time, using 2012-14 as the most recent three years of available 
landings data.
    Sub-Alternative 4f. Closure to end the last day of the month with 
the lowest landings based on monthly average landings through time, 
using 2012-14 as the most recent three years of available landings 
data.
C. St. Croix, USVI (All Sectors)
    Sub-Alternative 4g. Closure to end the last day of the month that 
has the highest landings based on monthly average landings through 
time, using 2012-2014 as the most recent three years of available 
landings data.
    Sub-Alternative 4h. Closure to end the last day of the month with 
the lowest landings based on monthly average landings through time, 
using 2012-2014 as the most recent three years of available landings 
data.
D. Caribbean-Wide (All Sectors)
    Sub-Alternative 4i. Closure to end the last day of the month that 
has the highest landings based on monthly average landings through 
time, using 2012-14 as the most recent three years of available 
landings data.
    Sub-Alternative 4j. Closure to end the last day of the month with 
the lowest landings based on monthly average landings through time 
using 2012-14 as the most recent three years of available landings 
data.
    Alternative 5: For FMUs that include species with seasonal closures 
in U.S. Caribbean federal waters (Table 2.2.6 in the document), AM-
based closures resulting from an ACL overage for these FMUs would be 
timed to be continuous with the seasonal closure. The AM-based closure 
would extend either forward or backward from the seasonal closure into 
the year as specified in Sub-Alternatives 5a through 5n for the number 
of days necessary to achieve the required reduction in landings. If, 
for any of these FMUs, in any year, the number of available days 
running from the date specified by the sub-alternative, is not enough 
to achieve the required reduction in landings, then the additional days 
needed would be captured by extending the closure in the opposite 
direction and continuing for the number of days needed to fulfill the 
required reduction.
I. Groupers
A. Puerto Rico
1. Commercial
    Sub-Alternative 5a: For the commercial sector of the Puerto Rico 
management area, an AM-based closure for the grouper complex would 
start on May 1st of the closure year and move forward toward the end of 
the year.
    Sub-Alternative 5b: For the commercial sector of the Puerto Rico 
management area, an AM-based closure for the grouper complex would end 
on November 30th of the closure year and move backward toward the 
beginning of the year.
2. Recreational
    Sub-Alternative 5c: For the recreational sector of the Puerto Rico 
management area, an AM-based closure for the grouper complex would 
start on May 1st of the closure year and move forward toward the end of 
the year.
    Sub-Alternative 5d: For the recreational sector of the Puerto Rico 
management area, an AM-based closure for the grouper complex would end 
on November 30th of the closure year and move backward toward the 
beginning of the year.
B. St. Thomas/St. John, USVI (All Sectors)
    Sub-Alternative 5e: For the St. Thomas/St. John management area, an 
AM-based closure for the grouper complex would start on May 1st of the 
closure year and move forward toward the end of the year.
C. St. Croix, USVI (All Sectors)
    Sub-Alternative 5f: For the St. Croix management area, an AM-based 
closure for the grouper complex would start on May 1st of the closure 
year and move forward toward the end of the year.
II. Snappers
A. Puerto Rico
1. Commercial
    Sub-Alternative 5g: For the commercial sector of the Puerto Rico 
management area, an AM-based closure for all snapper species in Snapper 
Unit 3 (SU3) would start on July 1st of the closure year and move 
forward toward the end of the year.
    Sub-Alternative 5h: For the commercial sector of the Puerto Rico 
management area, an AM-based closure for all snapper species in Snapper 
Unit 1 (SU1) would end on September 30th of the closure year and move 
backward toward the beginning of the year.
2. Recreational
    Sub-Alternative 5i: For the recreational sector of the Puerto Rico 
management area, an AM-based closure for all snapper species in SU3 
would start on July 1st of the closure year and move forward toward the 
end of the year.
    Sub-Alternative 5j: For the recreational sector of the Puerto Rico 
management area, an AM-based closure for all snapper species in SU1 
would end on September 30th of the closure year and move backward 
toward the beginning of the year.
B. St. Thomas/St. John, USVI (All Sectors)
    Sub-Alternative 5k: For the St. Thomas/St. John management area, an 
AM-based closure the snapper complex would start on July 1st of the 
closure year and move forward toward the end of the year.
    Sub-Alternative 5l: For the St. Thomas/St. John management area, an 
AM-based closure for the snapper complex would end on September 30th of 
the closure year and move backward toward the beginning of the year.
C. St. Croix, USVI (All Sectors)
    Sub-Alternative 5m: For the St. Croix management area, an AM-based 
closure for the snapper complex would start on July 1st of the closure 
year and move forward into the year.
    Sub-Alternative 5n: For the St. Croix management area, an AM-based 
closure

[[Page 47762]]

for the snapper complex would end on September 30th of the closure year 
and move backward toward the beginning of the year.
    Action 2: Specify a time period for revisiting the approach to 
establish AM-based closures selected in Action 1.
    Alternative 1. No action. Do not specify how often the approach 
chosen should be revisited.
    Alternative 2 (Preferred). Revisit the approach selected no longer 
than 2 years from implementation and every 2 years thereafter.
    Alternative 3. Revisit the approach selected no longer than 5 years 
from implementation and every 5 years thereafter.
    Additional Information: Written comments can be sent to Dr. 
Graciela Garc[iacute]a-Moliner by email at [email protected] or 
by regular mail to Caribbean Fishery Management Council, 270 
Mu[ntilde]oz Rivera Avenue, Suite 401, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918, no 
later than August 22, 2016.

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: July 19, 2016.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-17380 Filed 7-21-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P