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[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 127 (Friday, June 30, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 40600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-16637]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[I.D. 061900E]

Caribbean Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: The Caribbean Fishery Management Council will hold a series of 
public hearings in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands on Draft 
Amendment 1 to the Fishery Management Plan for Queen Conch Resources of 
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (FMP). The objectives of 
Amendment 1 are to address the issues of overfishing of the queen conch 
resource and apparent resource declines and to collect additional 
fishery information necessary for improved management.

DATES: The Council will accept written comments on the draft Amendment 
1 through July 31, 2000. The public hearings will be held July 10-26, 
2000. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates, times, and 
locations of the public hearings.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Miguel A. Rolon, 
Executive Director, Caribbean Fishery Management Council, 268 Munoz 
Rivera Avenue, Suite 1108, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00918-2577. The 
Council's telephone number is (787) 766-5926. Copies of draft Amendment 
1 and an executive summary will be available at the hearings or may be 
obtained from the Council at preceding address. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for specific hearing locations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Miguel A. Rolon, Executive 
Director, or Graciela Garcia-Moliner, FMP and Habitat Specialist, 
Caribbean Fishery Management Council, 268 Munoz Rivera Avenue, Suite 
1108, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00918-2577. The Council's telephone number 
is (787) 766-5926. E-mail addresses are [email protected] or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Management Measures

    The Caribbean Fishery Management Council will hold a series of 
public hearings in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to obtain 
input from fishers and the general public on the following draft 
Amendment 1 alternative management measures (corresponding draft 
Amendment 1 sections are referenced):
    Alternative 1 (section 5.1 -Preferred Alternative): Prohibit the 
harvest and possession of queen conch in the exclusive economic zone 
(EEZ);
    Alternative 2 (section 5.2): Prohibit the harvest and possession of 
queen conch by recreational fishers in the EEZ;
    Alternative 3 (section 5.3): Prohibit the harvest of queen conch in 
the EEZ by all fishers using SCUBA gear;
    Alternative 4 (section 5.4): Prohibit the harvest of queen conch in 
the EEZ by recreational fishers using SCUBA;
    Alternative 5 (section 5.5): Establish a permit for queen conch for 
fishers and dealers.
    Alternative 6 (section 5.6): Establish a limited entry system for 
queen conch fishers;
    Alternative 7 (section 5.7): Establish a trip limit for commercial 
fishers of 100 pounds (45.4 kg) of queen conch meat per vessel per 
trip, and not more than 300 pounds (136.1 kg) per week for each vessel;
    Alternative 8 (section 5.8): Establish a trip limit of 150 queen 
conch per commercial fisher per trip;
    Alternative 9 (section 5.9): Change the dates for the annual closed 
harvest season for queen conch from July 1- September 30 to July 1-
October 31 of each consecutive year;
    Alternative 10 (section 5.10): Change the dates for the annual 
closed harvest season for queen conch from July 1-September 30 to June 
1-September 30 of each consecutive year;
    Alternative 11 (section 5.11): Change the current annual closed 
harvest season for queen conch from the 3-month period of July 1-
September 30 to a 4-month period (could be two separate sub-periods) 
other than those under Alternatives 9 and 10; and
    Alternative 12 (section 5.12): No management action taken.
    Time and Location for Public Hearings
    Public hearings for the draft Amendment 1 will be held at the 
following dates, times, and locations:
    1. Monday, July 10, 2000--Travelodge Hotel, Isla Verde Avenue, Isla 
Verde, Puerto Rico, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.;
    2. Tuesday, July 11, 2000--Asociacion de Pescadores la Villa del 
Ojo, Bo. Borinquen, Sector Crash Boat, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, from 7 
p.m. to 10 p.m.;
    3. Wednesday, July 12, 2000--Villa Parguera Hotel, Carr. 304, Km. 
3.3, La Parguera, Lajas, Puerto Rico, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.;
    4. Thursday, July 13, 2000--Reserva Estuarina Bahia de Jobos, Carr. 
705, Km. 2.3, Main Street, Aguirre, Puerto Rico, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.;
    5. Tuesday, July 18, 2000--Holiday Inn, Veterans Drive, Charlotte 
Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I., from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.; 6. Wednesday, 
July 19, 2000--Legislature Building, Hilltop building, Cruz Bay, St. 
John, U.S.V.I., from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.;
    7. Thursday, July 20, 2000--Caravelle Hotel, 44A Queen Cross St., 
St. Croix, U.S.V.I., from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.;
    8. Wednesday, July 26, 2000--Maries Restaurant, Rd. #3, Km. 70.3, 
Punta Santiago, Humacao, Puerto Rico, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.;

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. 
Rolon, Executive Director, Caribbean Fishery Management Council, 268 
Munoz Rivera Avenue, Suite 1108, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00918-2577, 
telephone (787) 766-5926, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: June 26, 2000.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-16637 Filed 6-29-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
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