Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2013/06/04/2013-13194/amendment-4-to-the-corals-and-reef-associated-plants-and-invertebrates-fishery-management-plan-of
Timestamp: 2019-03-25 01:26:12
Document Index: 619484786

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 622', 'art 622', 'art 622', 'art 622', 'art 622', 'art 622', 'art 622', 'art 622', 'art 622', 'art 622', 'art 622', 'art 622']

Federal Register :: Amendment 4 to the Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates Fishery Management Plan of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; Seagrass Management
A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 06/04/2013
This rule is effective July 5, 2013.
78 FR 33255
33255-33259 (5 pages)
Docket No. 120718255-3500-02
0648-BC38
2013-13194
NOAA-NMFS-2013-0021
Amendment 4 to the Fishery Management Plan for Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands: Seagrass Management
Amendment 4 Coral FMP, Final Environmental Assessment
Amendment 4 Environmental Assessment
Other Changes Contained in This Final Rule
Appendix A to Part 622—Species Tables
Table 1 of Appendix A to Part 622—Caribbean Coral Reef Resources
Table 2 of Appendix A to Part 622—Caribbean Reef Fish
Appendix E to Part 622—Caribbean Island/Island Group Management Areas
Table 1 of Appendix E to Part 622—Coordinates of the Puerto Rico Management Area.
Table 2 of Appendix E to Part 622—Coordinates of the St. Croix Management Area.
Table 3 of Appendix E to Part 622—Coordinates of the St. Thomas/St. John Management Area.
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2013-13194 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2013-13194
This PDF is the current document as it appeared on Public Inspection on 06/03/2013 at 8:45 am.
Electronic copies of Amendment 4 to the Coral FMP, which include an Environmental Assessment, a Regulatory Flexibility Act analysis, a regulatory impact review, and a fishery impact statement, may be obtained from the Southeast Regional Office Web site at: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/​index.html.
Maria del Mar Lopez, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, telephone: 727-824-5305, or email: Maria.Lopez@noaa.gov.
Seagrasses in the U.S. Caribbean EEZ are managed under the Coral FMP. The Coral FMP was prepared by the Council and is implemented under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act by regulations at 50 CFR part 622.
On February 25, 2013, NMFS published a notice of availability for Amendment 4 and requested comments (78 FR 12703). On March 6, 2013, NMFS published a proposed rule for Amendment 4 to the Coral FMP and requested public comments (78 FR 14503). The proposed rule and Amendment 4 to the Coral FMP outline the rationale for the actions contained in this final rule. Amendment 4 to the Coral FMP was approved by the Secretary of Commerce on May 23, 2013. A summary of the actions implemented by this final rule is provided below.
This final rule removes seagrass species from the Coral FMP. The Council determined that Federal management of these seagrass species is unnecessary because there is no known harvest of seagrasses, and these species occur predominantly in Puerto Rico commonwealth and USVI territorial waters (state waters). In addition, seagrasses are designated as essential fish habitat (EFH) for stocks within the four Council FMPs (Queen Conch Resources of Puerto Rico and the USVI, Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the USVI, Spiny Lobster Fishery of Puerto Rico and the USVI, and Coral) and as habitat areas of particular concern (HAPC) within special areas in state waters, and will continue to be protected by these designations.
In 50 CFR part 622, Appendix A, NMFS removes the text regarding aquarium trade species as being in the “data collection” category in the Coral FMP and the Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the USVI FMP (Table 1 and Table 2).
NMFS has also determined that the description of waypoints B and C in the Puerto Rico Management Area (in Table 1) and waypoints B and C in the St. Thomas/St. John Management Area (in Table 3), as well as the boundary line that connects these two waypoints, were incorrectly described in the final rule for the 2010 Caribbean ACL Amendment. NMFS removes the description for points B and C in Appendix E, and maintains just the waypoints because they are sufficient descriptions of the boundary in those instances. NMFS also revises the description of the boundary line that connects waypoints B and C in Appendix E to be “the 3-nautical mile Territorial boundary of the St. Thomas/St. John island group” instead of “the EEZ/Territorial boundary,” to be consistent with the Council's intent for the specification of these Caribbean island management areas. Additionally, NMFS has determined that two boundary lines, one in the St. Croix Management Area (in Table 2) and one in the St. Thomas/St. John Management Area (in Table 3), were incorrectly described as the “EEZ/Territorial boundary” and are revised to “International/EEZ boundary.” These revisions are consistent with the Council's intent for the specification of these Caribbean island management areas.
NMFS received a total of three comments on Amendment 4 to the Coral FMP and the proposed rule. A Federal agency had no comments on the actions in Amendment 4 to the Coral FMP. One comment was unrelated to the actions in Amendment 4 to the Coral FMP. The specific comment related to the actions contained in the amendment or the proposed rule is summarized and responded to below.
Comment: Seagrasses are important fish breeding habitat and in addition to being protected from harvest, they should also be protected from physical damage (e.g., sand harvesting, anchoring, mooring, traps).
Response: NMFS agrees that seagrasses are important fish habitats. However, because there is no known direct harvest of seagrasses and these species occur predominately in state waters, the Council determined that Federal management of these species would serve no useful purpose. That decision does not mean that seagrasses are unprotected. Seagrass habitat is already protected by EFH and HAPC designations in the four Caribbean Fishery Management Council FMPs (Queen Conch Resources of Puerto Rico and the USVI, Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the USVI, Spiny Lobster Fishery of Puerto Rico and the USVI, and Coral). This rule will not affect those EFH and HAPC designations. To the extent that seagrasses are present in Federal waters, this habitat is protected by anchoring restrictions in some areas and year-round prohibitions on the use of pots, traps, bottom longlines, gillnets, or trammel nets in Federal closed areas. Other management measures, such as the prohibition on the use of chemicals, plant or plant-derived toxins, and explosives to harvest reef-associated species, as well as restricting to hand-held dip nets and slurp guns the allowable gear for collecting marine aquarium fishes, provide direct and indirect physical benefits to the seagrass Start Printed Page 33256habitat by protecting it from the adverse effects of specific fishing gear.
In 50 CFR Part 622 Appendix A Tables 1 and 2, NMFS has identified several species names that contained misspellings. These misspellings are corrected in this final rule.
The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined that the actions contained in this final rule are consistent with Amendment 4 to the Coral FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable law.
2. In Appendix A to part 622, Tables 1 and 2 are revised to read as follows:
I. Coelenterates—Phylum Coelenterata
A. Hydrocorals—Class Hydrozoa
1. Hydroids—Order Anthoathecata
Millepora spp., Fire corals
Family Stylasteridae
Stylaster roseus, Rose lace corals
B. Anthozoans—Class Anthozoa
1. Soft corals—Order Alcyonacea
Erythropodium caribaeorum, Encrusting gorgonian
Iciligorgia schrammi, Deepwater sea fan
Briareum asbestinum, Corky sea finger
Telesto spp.
2. Gorgonian corals—Order Gorgonacea
Ellisella spp., Sea whips
Gorgonia flabellum, Venus sea fan
G. mariae, Wide-mesh sea fan
G. ventalina, Common sea fan
Pseudopterogorgia acerosa, Sea plume
P. albatrossae
P. americana, Slimy sea plume
P. bipinnata, Bipinnate plume
Pterogorgia anceps, Angular sea whip
P. citrina, Yellow sea whip
Eunicea calyculata, Warty sea rod
E. fusca, Doughnut sea rod
E. knighti
E. laciniata
E. laxispica
E. mammosa, Swollen-knob
E. succinea, Shelf-knob sea rod
E. touneforti
M. elongata, Orange spiny rod
M. laxa, Delicate spiny rod
M. muricata, Spiny sea fan
M. pinnata, Long spine sea fan
Muriceopsis spp.
M. flavida, Rough sea plume
Plexaura flexuosa, Bent sea rod
P. homomalla, Black sea rod
Plexaurella dichotoma, Slit-pore sea rod
P. fusifera
P. nutans, Giant slit-pore
Pseudoplexaura crucis
P. flagellosa
P. porosa, Porous sea rod
P. wagenaari
3. Hard Corals—Order Scleractinia
Acropora cervicornis, Staghorn coral
A. palmata, Elkhorn coral
A. prolifera, Fused staghorn
Family Agaricidae
Agaricia agaricites, Lettuce leaf coral
A. fragilis, Fragile saucer
A. lamarcki, Lamarck's sheet
A. tenuifolia, Thin leaf lettuce
Leptoseris cucullata, Sunray lettuce
Stephanocoenia michelinii, Blushing star
Eusmilia fastigiata, Flower coral
Tubastrea aurea, Cup coral
Cladocora arbuscula, Tube coral
Colpophyllia natans, Boulder coral
Diploria clivosa, Knobby brain coral
D. labyrinthiformis, Grooved brain
D. strigosa, Symmetrical brain
Favia fragum, Golfball coral
Manicina areolata, Rose coral
M. mayori, Tortugas rose coral
Montastrea annularis, Boulder star coral
M. cavernosa, Great star coral
Solenastrea bournoni, Smooth star coral
Dendrogyra cylindrus, Pillar coral
Dichocoenia stellaris, Pancake star
D. stokesi, Elliptical star
Meandrina meandrites, Maze coral
Isophyllastrea rigida, Rough star coral
Isophyllia sinuosa, Sinuous cactus
Mussa angulosa, Large flower coral
Mycetophyllia aliciae, Thin fungus coral
M. danae, Fat fungus coral
M. ferox, Grooved fungus
M. lamarckiana, Fungus coral
Scolymia cubensis, Artichoke coral
S. lacera, Solitary disk
Oculina diffusa, Ivory bush coral
Madracis decactis, Ten-ray star coral
M. mirabilis, Yellow pencil
Porites astreoides, Mustard hill coral
P. branneri, Blue crust coral
P. divaricata, Small finger coral
P. porites, Finger coral
Astrangia solitaria, Dwarf cup coral
Phyllangia americana, Hidden cup coral
Siderastrea radians, Lesser starlet
S. siderea, Massive starlet
4. Black Corals—Order Antipatharia
Antipathes spp., Bushy black coral
Stichopathes spp., Wire coral
Aquarium Trade Species in the Caribbean Coral FMP
I. Sponges—Phylum Porifera
A. Demosponges—Class Demospongiae
Amphimedon compressa, Erect rope sponge
Chondrilla nucula, Chicken liver sponge
Geodia neptuni, Potato sponge
Haliclona spp., Finger sponge
Myriastra spp.
Niphates digitalis, Pink vase sponge
N. erecta, Lavender rope sponge
S. vaginalis
Tethya crypta
II. Coelenterates—Phylum Coelenterata
A. Anthozoans—Class Anthozoa
1. Anemones—Order Actiniaria
Aiptasia tagetes, Pale anemone
Bartholomea annulata, Corkscrew anemone
Condylactis gigantea, Giant pink-tipped anemoneStart Printed Page 33257
Heteractis lucida, Knobby anemone
Lebrunia spp., Staghorn anemone
2. Colonial Anemones—Order Zoanthidea
Zoanthus spp., Sea mat
3. False Corals—Order Corallimorpharia
Discosoma spp. (formerly Rhodactis), False coral
Ricordea florida, Florida false coral
III. Annelid Worms—Phylum Annelida
A. Polychaetes—Class Polychaeta
Family Sabellidae, Feather duster worms
Sabellastarte spp., Tube worms
S. magnifica, Magnificent duster
Spirobranchus giganteus, Christmas tree worm
IV. Mollusks—Phylum Mollusca
A. Gastropods—Class Gastropoda
Tridachia crispata, Lettuce sea slug
Oliva reticularis, Netted olive
Cyphoma gibbosum, Flamingo tongue
B. Bivalves—Class Bivalvia
Lima spp., Fileclams
L. scabra, Rough fileclam
C. Cephalopods—Class Cephalopoda
1. Octopuses—Order Octopoda
Octopus spp. (except the Common octopus, O. vulgaris)
V. Arthropods—Phylum Arthropoda
A. Crustaceans—Subphylum Crustacea
1. Decapods—Order Decapoda
Alpheus armatus, Snapping shrimp
Paguristes spp., Hermit crabs
P. cadenati, Red reef hermit
Percnon gibbesi, Nimble spray crab
Lysmata spp., Peppermint shrimp
Thor amboinensis, Anemone shrimp
Family Majidae, Coral crabs
Mithrax spp., Clinging crabs
M. cinctimanus, Banded clinging
M. sculptus, Green clinging
Stenorhynchus seticornis, Yellowline arrow
Family Palaemonida
Periclimenes spp., Cleaner shrimp
Family Squillidae, Mantis crabs
Gonodactylus spp.
Lysiosquilla spp.
Family Stenopodidae, Coral shrimp
Stenopus hispidus, Banded shrimp
S. scutellatus, Golden shrimp
VI. Echinoderms—Phylum Echinodermata
A. Feather stars—Class Crinoidea
Analcidometra armata, Swimming crinoid
Davidaster spp., Crinoids
Nemaster spp., Crinoids
B. Sea stars—Class Asteroidea
Astropecten spp., Sand stars
Linckia guildingii, Common comet star
Ophidiaster guildingii, Comet star
Oreaster reticulatus, Cushion sea star
C. Brittle and basket stars—Class Ophiuroidea
Ophiocoma spp., Brittlestars
Ophioderma spp., Brittlestars
O. rubicundum, Ruby brittlestar
D. Sea Urchins—Class Echinoidea
Diadema antillarum, Long-spined urchin
Echinometra spp., Purple urchin
Eucidaris tribuloides, Pencil urchin
Lytechinus spp., Pin cushion urchin
Tripneustes ventricosus, Sea egg
E. Sea Cucumbers—Class Holothuroidea
Holothuria spp., Sea cucumbers
VII. Chordates—Phylum Chordata
A. Tunicates—Subphylum Urochordata
Black snapper, Apsilus dentatus
Cardinal, Pristipomoides macrophthalmus
Gray snapper, Lutjanus griseus
Serranidae—Sea basses and Groupers
Coney, Epinephelus fulvus
Graysby, Epinephelus cruentatus
Margate, Haemulon album
Spotted goatfish, Pseudupeneus maculatus
Yellow goatfish, Mulloidichthys martinicus
Jolthead porgy, Calamus bajonado
Sea bream, Archosargus rhomboidalis
Sheepshead porgy, Calamus penna
Pluma, Calamus pennatula
Blackbar soldierfish, Myripristis jacobus
Bigeye, Priacanthus arenatus
Longspine squirrelfish, Holocentrus rufus
Squirrelfish, Holocentrus adscensionis
Blue runner, Caranx crysos
Horse-eye jack, Caranx latus
Black jack, Caranx lugubris
Bar jack, Caranx ruber
Yellow jack, Caranx bartholomaei
Blue parrotfish, Scarus coeruleus
Midnight parrotfish, Scarus coelestinus
Princess parrotfish, Scarus taeniopterus
Rainbow parrotfish, Scarus guacamaia
Redfin parrotfish, Sparisoma rubripinne
Redtail parrotfish, Sparisoma chrysopterum
Redband parrotfish, Sparisoma aurofrenatum
Striped parrotfish, Scarus croicensis
Blue tang, Acanthurus coeruleus
Ocean surgeonfish, Acanthurus bahianus
Doctorfish, Acanthurus chirurgus
Ocean triggerfish, Canthidermis sufflamen
Sargassum triggerfish, Xanthichthys ringens
Whitespotted filefish, Cantherhines macrocerus
Black durgon, Melichthys niger
Honeycomb cowfish, Lactophrys polygonia
Scrawled cowfish, Lactophrys quadricornis
Spanish hogfish, Bodianus rufus
Gray angelfish, Pomacanthus arcuatus
French angelfish, Pomacanthus paru
Aquarium Trade Species in the Caribbean Reef Fish FMP:
Frogfish, Antennarius spp.
Flamefish, Apogon maculatus
Conchfish, Astrapogon stellatus
Redlip blenny, Ophioblennius atlanticus
Peacock flounder, Bothus lunatus
Longsnout butterflyfish, Chaetodon aculeatus
Foureye butterflyfish, Chaetodon capistratus
Spotfin butterflyfish, Chaetodon ocellatus
Redspotted hawkfish, Amblycirrhitus pinos
Flying gurnard, Dactylopterus volitans
Neon goby, Gobiosoma oceanops
Rusty goby, Priolepis hipoliti
Yellowcheek wrasse, Halichoeres cyanocephalus
Clown wrasse, Halichoeres maculipinna Start Printed Page 33258
Pearly razorfish, Hemipteronotus novacula
Green razorfish, Hemipteronotus splendens
Bluehead wrasse, Thalassoma bifasciatum
Chain moray, Echidna catenata
Green moray, Gymnothorax funebris
Goldentail moray, Gymnothorax miliaris
Batfish, Ogcocephalus spp.
Goldspotted eel, Myrichthys ocellatus
Yellowhead jawfish, Opistognathus aurifrons
Dusky jawfish, Opistognathus whitehursti
Cherubfish, Centropyge argi
Blue chromis, Chromis cyanea
Sunshinefish, Chromis insolata
Yellowtail damselfish, Microspathodon chrysurus
Dusky damselfish, Pomacentrus fuscus
Beaugregory, Pomacentrus leucostictus
Bicolor damselfish, Pomacentrus partitus
Threespot damselfish, Pomacentrus planifrons
Glasseye snapper, Priacanthus cruentatus
High-hat, Equetus acuminatus
Jackknife-fish, Equetus lanceolatus
Spotted drum, Equetus punctatus
Butter hamlet, Hypoplectrus unicolor
Greater soapfish, Rypticus saponaceus
Lantern bass, Serranus baldwini
Tobaccofish, Serranus tabacarius
Harlequin bass, Serranus tigrinus
Chalk bass, Serranus tortugarum
Caribbean tonguefish, Symphurus arawak
Seahorses, Hippocampus spp.
Pipefishes, Syngnathus spp.
Sharpnose puffer, Canthigaster rostrata
Porcupinefish, Diodon hystrix
3. Appendix E to part 622 is revised to read as follows:
The Puerto Rico management area is bounded by rhumb lines connecting, in order, the following points.
A (intersects with the International/EEZ boundary) 19°37′29″ 65°20′57″
B 18°25′46.3015″ 65°06′31.866″
From Point B, proceed southerly along the 3-nautical mile Territorial boundary of the St. Thomas/St. John island group to Point C
C 18°13′59.0606″ 65°05′33.058″
D 18°01′16.9636″ 64°57′38.817″
E 17°30′00.000″ 65°20′00.1716″
F 16°02′53.5812″ 65°20′00.1716″'
From Point F, proceed southwesterly, then northerly, then easterly, and finally southerly along the International/EEZ boundary to Point A
The St. Croix management area is bounded by rhumb lines connecting, in order, the following points.
G 18°03′03″ 64°38′03″
From Point G, proceed easterly, then southerly, then southwesterly along the International/EEZ boundary to Point F
F 16°02′53.5812″ 65°20′00.1716″
The St. Thomas/St. John management area is bounded by rhumb lines connecting, in order, the following points.
From Point A, proceed southeasterly along the International/EEZ boundary to Point G
From Point C, proceed northerly along the 3-nautical mile Territorial boundary of the St. Thomas/St. John island group to Point B
Start Printed Page 33259 End Supplemental Information
[FR Doc. 2013-13194 Filed 6-3-13; 8:45 am]