80 FR 10059 - Caribbean Fishery Management Council: Scoping Meetings

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 37 (February 25, 2015)

Page Range		10059-10060
FR Document		2015-03892

The harvest activities of all fishing sectors must be understood to the greatest degree possible to assure that societal goals encompassed in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act are met. Thus, the need for timely, effective, and efficient means to monitor harvest from all sectors is fundamental. The goal of this Scoping Hearing is to allow the public to comment on the scoping document and to provide alternative options and ideas not yet considered by the Council and NMFS.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 37 (Wednesday, February 25, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 37 (Wednesday, February 25, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10059-10060]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-03892]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD791


Caribbean Fishery Management Council: Scoping Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of scoping meetings on Caribbean Federal permits.

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SUMMARY: The harvest activities of all fishing sectors must be 
understood to the greatest degree possible to assure that societal 
goals encompassed in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act are met. Thus, the need for timely, effective, and 
efficient means to monitor harvest from all sectors is fundamental. The 
goal of this Scoping Hearing is to allow the public to comment on the 
scoping document and to provide alternative options and ideas not yet 
considered by the Council and NMFS.

Dates and Addresses:
    Written comments can be sent to the Council not later than April 
10th, 2015, by regular mail to the address below, or via email to 
[email protected] or [email protected].
In Puerto Rico
March 11, 2015--7 p.m.-10 p.m.--Verdanza Hotel, Tartak St. Isla Verde 
Puerto Rico
March 25, 2015--7 p.m.-10 p.m.--Mayaguez Holiday Inn, 2701 Hostos 
Avenue, Mayag[uuml]ez, Puerto Rico
In the U.S. Virgin Islands
March 16, 2015--7 p.m.-10 p.m.--The Buccaneer Hotel, Estate Shoys, 
Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
March 18, 2015--7 p.m.-10 p.m.--Windward Passage Hotel, Charlotte 
Amalie, St. Thomas, 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 is 
considering establishing federal permits for fishing in the U.S. 
Caribbean exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and is conducting scoping 
meetings to obtain public comments regarding this matter.

Background

    A permitting system provides a comprehensive method to achieve this 
goal. Permitting supports professionalization of individual fisheries, 
identifying and acknowledging those fishers dedicated to and reliant 
upon a specific component of the commercial fishery. Permits also allow 
for direct communication with fishing entities, enabling focused 
outreach and education opportunities.
    A permitting system allows fishery scientists and managers to 
gather more accurate data, decreasing both scientific and management 
uncertainty. Scientific uncertainty can be mitigated to some degree by 
increasing knowledge of the fishery and the health of the fish 
populations that support that fishery. A permit system that identifies 
the universe of fishers operating within a fishing sector and allows 
tracking of the disposition and characteristics of harvested resources 
would substantially enhance knowledge of the fishery. Data derived from 
a comprehensive permit system would also contribute to reducing 
management uncertainty by providing better estimates of harvesting 
effort and the timing of harvest, thereby improving management design 
and responsiveness. More accurate and reliable catch data allows for 
more informed management.
    The absence of a federal permit system, or mandatory federal 
reporting requirements, has been identified as a major contributor to 
the lack of fishing effort information in the U.S. Caribbean EEZ. A 
permitting system would allow better estimates for measuring fishing 
effort for the Council-managed fisheries while shedding light on the 
effectiveness of regulations implemented to manage that effort.
    Some of the needs and Issues that a permitting system could address 
in the EEZ:
    1. Provide accurate and timely data on landings.
    2. Allow estimation of catch per unit of fishing effort.
    3. Identify spatial and temporal trends in effort, including the 
relative importance of fishing to individual communities.
    4. Manage competing interests for the resource.
    5. Identify trends in the health of targeted fish stocks.
    6. Quantify the socioeconomic importance of permitted fishing 
sectors and mitigate negative impacts of management to fishing 
communities.
    7. Provide permitted fishers with a better understanding of their 
fishery and the opportunities and implications of management to that 
fishery.
    There are many aspects to implementing fishing permits in the U.S. 
Caribbean exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and many options regarding the 
design of a permit system. Options for developing and designing a 
permit system include, but are not limited to:
    1. Require commercial fishers to obtain a federal permit to fish in 
the U.S. Caribbean EEZ;
    2. Require commercial fishers to obtain a commercial fishing 
license from either Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) to 
fish in the U.S. Caribbean EEZ;
    3. Require commercial fishers to obtain a federal permit or a 
commercial fishing license from either Puerto Rico or the USVI to fish 
in the U.S. Caribbean EEZ
    4. Require a species/species group/fishery-specific permit in the 
U.S. Caribbean EEZ;
    5. Require a gear-specific permit in the U.S. Caribbean EEZ;
    6. Require a dealer permit to purchase fish harvested from the U.S. 
Caribbean EEZ;

[[Page 10060]]

    7. Conduct a pilot study with some or all fishers from some or all 
island groups to evaluate the practicality of permits in the U.S. 
Caribbean EEZ.
    The goal of these scoping meetings is to allow the public to 
comment on the options listed above and to provide alternative options 
not yet considered by the Council and NMFS.
    Copy of the Scoping Document to address the Development of Federal 
Permits in the U.S. Caribbean Exclusive Economic Zone can be found at 
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/caribbean/index.html 
under Current Rule Making or and the Caribbean Council Web site at 
caribbeanfmc.com.

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: February 20, 2015.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-03892 Filed 2-24-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 37 / Wednesday, February 25, 2015 / Notices 10059

the following Amendments to the 2006 document and to provide alternative system would also contribute to
Consolidated HMS FMP: Draft options and ideas not yet considered by reducing management uncertainty by
Amendment 6 on the future of shark the Council and NMFS. providing better estimates of harvesting
fishery, providing updates on Dates and Addresses: effort and the timing of harvest, thereby
Amendment 5b on dusky shark Written comments can be sent to the improving management design and
management and Amendment 9 on Council not later than April 10th, 2015, responsiveness. More accurate and
smoothhound shark management and by regular mail to the address below, or reliable catch data allows for more
ongoing stock assessment, reviewing via email to graciela_cfmc@yahoo.com informed management.
Final Amendment 7 on bluefin tuna or Miguel.lugo@noaa.gov. The absence of a federal permit
management measures, as well as system, or mandatory federal reporting
discussing the HMS Essential Fish In Puerto Rico requirements, has been identified as a
Habitat 5-Year Review. The meeting will March 11, 2015—7 p.m.–10 p.m.— major contributor to the lack of fishing
also include discussion of the Electronic Verdanza Hotel, Tartak St. Isla effort information in the U.S. Caribbean
Technologies Implementation Plan for Verde Puerto Rico EEZ. A permitting system would allow
Atlantic HMS, implementation of 2014 March 25, 2015—7 p.m.–10 p.m.— better estimates for measuring fishing
ICCAT recommendations, and updates Mayaguez Holiday Inn, 2701 Hostos effort for the Council-managed fisheries
on the Atlantic HMS Management- Avenue, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico while shedding light on the
Based Research Priorities document and effectiveness of regulations
other research activities, among other In the U.S. Virgin Islands implemented to manage that effort.
updates. March 16, 2015—7 p.m.–10 p.m.—The Some of the needs and Issues that a
Additional information on the Buccaneer Hotel, Estate Shoys, permitting system could address in the
meeting and a copy of the draft agenda Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin EEZ:
will be posted prior to the meeting at: Islands 1. Provide accurate and timely data on
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/ March 18, 2015—7 p.m.–10 p.m.— landings.
advisory_panels/hms_ap/meetings/ap_ Windward Passage Hotel, Charlotte 2. Allow estimation of catch per unit
meetings.html. Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin of fishing effort.
Islands. 3. Identify spatial and temporal trends
Special Accommodations in effort, including the relative
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: importance of fishing to individual
This meeting is physically accessible
to people with disabilities. Requests for Caribbean Fishery Management Council, communities.
sign language interpretation or other 270 Muñoz Rivera Avenue, Suite 401, 4. Manage competing interests for the
auxiliary aids should be directed to San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918–1903, resource.
Peter Cooper at (301) 427–8503 at least telephone: (787) 766–5926. 5. Identify trends in the health of
7 days prior to the meeting. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The targeted fish stocks.
Caribbean Fishery Management Council 6. Quantify the socioeconomic
Dated: February 20, 2015. importance of permitted fishing sectors
is considering establishing federal
Alan D. Risenhoover, permits for fishing in the U.S. Caribbean and mitigate negative impacts of
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and is management to fishing communities.
National Marine Fisheries Service.
conducting scoping meetings to obtain 7. Provide permitted fishers with a
[FR Doc. 2015–03894 Filed 2–24–15; 8:45 am] public comments regarding this matter. better understanding of their fishery and
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P the opportunities and implications of
Background management to that fishery.
A permitting system provides a There are many aspects to
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE comprehensive method to achieve this implementing fishing permits in the
goal. Permitting supports U.S. Caribbean exclusive economic zone
National Oceanic and Atmospheric (EEZ) and many options regarding the
professionalization of individual
Administration design of a permit system. Options for
fisheries, identifying and
RIN 0648–XD791 acknowledging those fishers dedicated developing and designing a permit
to and reliant upon a specific system include, but are not limited to:
Caribbean Fishery Management 1. Require commercial fishers to
component of the commercial fishery.
Council: Scoping Meetings obtain a federal permit to fish in the
Permits also allow for direct
U.S. Caribbean EEZ;
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries communication with fishing entities, 2. Require commercial fishers to
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and enabling focused outreach and obtain a commercial fishing license
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), education opportunities. from either Puerto Rico or the U.S.
Commerce. A permitting system allows fishery Virgin Islands (USVI) to fish in the U.S.
ACTION: Notice of scoping meetings on scientists and managers to gather more Caribbean EEZ;
Caribbean Federal permits. accurate data, decreasing both scientific 3. Require commercial fishers to
and management uncertainty. Scientific obtain a federal permit or a commercial
SUMMARY: The harvest activities of all uncertainty can be mitigated to some fishing license from either Puerto Rico
fishing sectors must be understood to degree by increasing knowledge of the or the USVI to fish in the U.S. Caribbean
the greatest degree possible to assure fishery and the health of the fish
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

EEZ
that societal goals encompassed in the populations that support that fishery. A 4. Require a species/species group/
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery permit system that identifies the fishery-specific permit in the U.S.
Conservation and Management Act are universe of fishers operating within a Caribbean EEZ;
met. Thus, the need for timely, effective, fishing sector and allows tracking of the 5. Require a gear-specific permit in
and efficient means to monitor harvest disposition and characteristics of the U.S. Caribbean EEZ;
from all sectors is fundamental. The harvested resources would substantially 6. Require a dealer permit to purchase
goal of this Scoping Hearing is to allow enhance knowledge of the fishery. Data fish harvested from the U.S. Caribbean
the public to comment on the scoping derived from a comprehensive permit EEZ;

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10060 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 37 / Wednesday, February 25, 2015 / Notices

7. Conduct a pilot study with some or species of marine mammals incidental the potential to disturb a marine
all fishers from some or all island to pile driving and removal associated mammal or marine mammal stock in the
groups to evaluate the practicality of with the Central Bay Operations and wild by causing disruption of behavioral
permits in the U.S. Caribbean EEZ. Maintenance Facility Project in the City patterns, including, but not limited to,
The goal of these scoping meetings is of Alameda, California, between migration, breathing, nursing, breeding,
to allow the public to comment on the December 1, 2015, through November feeding, or sheltering [Level B
options listed above and to provide 30, 2016. harassment].
alternative options not yet considered DATES: Effective December 1, 2015,
by the Council and NMFS. Summary of Request
through November 30, 2016.
Copy of the Scoping Document to On April 9, 2014, NMFS received an
ADDRESSES: A copy of the application
address the Development of Federal application from WETA for the taking of
containing a list of the references used
Permits in the U.S. Caribbean Exclusive marine mammals incidental to the
in this document, NMFS’s
Economic Zone can be found at http:// construction of a Central Bay Operations
Environmental Assessment (EA),
sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_ and Maintenance Facility (Project). The
Finding of No Significant Impact
fisheries/caribbean/index.html under purpose of the Project is to serve as the
(FONSI), and the IHA may be obtained
Current Rule Making or and the central San Francisco Bay (Bay) base for
visiting the Internet at: http://
Caribbean Council Web site at WETA’s ferry fleet. After NMFS
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/
caribbeanfmc.com. provided comments on the draft IHA
incidental.htm#applications.
Special Accommodations Documents cited in this notice may be application, WETA submitted a revised
viewed, by appointment, during regular IHA application on May 15, 2014.
These meetings are physically NMFS determined that the application
accessible to people with disabilities. business hours, at 1315 East West
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. was adequate and complete on July 31,
For more information or request for sign 2014. No changes was made for the
language interpretation and other FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Shane Guan, Office of Protected proposed WETA’s construction Project
auxiliary aids, please contact Mr. as described in the proposed IHA except
Miguel A. Rolón, Executive Director, Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401.
the Project duration was changed to
Caribbean Fishery Management Council, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
December 1, 2015, through November
270 Muñoz Rivera Avenue, Suite 401, Background 30, 2016, from the original June 15
San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00918–1903, through October 15, 2014, due to
telephone (787) 766–5926, at least 5 Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the
MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct funding and other constraints. Please
days prior to the meeting date. refer to Federal Register notice for the
the Secretary of Commerce to allow,
Dated: February 20, 2015. proposed IHA for a detailed description
upon request, the incidental, but not
Tracey L. Thompson, intentional, taking of small numbers of of the project activities.
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable marine mammals by U.S. citizens who
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Comments and Responses
engage in a specified activity (other than
[FR Doc. 2015–03892 Filed 2–24–15; 8:45 am] commercial fishing) within a specified A notice of NMFS’ proposal to issue
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P geographical region if certain findings an IHA to WETA was published in the
are made and either regulations are Federal Register on September 17, 2014
issued or, if the taking is limited to (79 FR 55479). That notice described, in
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE harassment, a notice of a proposed detail, WETA’s activity, the marine
authorization is provided to the public mammal species that may be affected by
National Oceanic and Atmospheric the activity, and the anticipated effects
Administration for review.
An authorization for incidental on marine mammals. During the 30-day
RIN 0648–XD444 takings shall be granted if NMFS finds public comment period, NMFS received
that the taking will have a negligible comments from the Marine Mammal
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to impact on the species or stock(s), will Commission (Commission), the Sierra
Specified Activities; Taking Marine not have an unmitigable adverse impact Club, the San Francisco Bay
Mammals Incidental to San Francisco on the availability of the species or Conservation and Development
Bay Area Water Emergency stock(s) for subsistence uses (where Commission (BCDC), and 40 private
Transportation Authority Central Bay relevant), and if the permissible citizens.
Operations and Maintenance Facility methods of taking and requirements All comments specific to WETA’s
Project in Alameda, California pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring application that address the statutory
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries and reporting of such takings are set and regulatory requirements or findings
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and forth. NMFS has defined ‘‘negligible NMFS must make to issue an IHA are
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), impact’’ in 50 CFR 216.103 as ‘‘an addressed in this section of the Federal
Commerce. impact resulting from the specified Register notice.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of an incidental activity that cannot be reasonably Comment 1: The Commission
take authorization. expected to, and is not reasonably likely recommends NMFS issue the IHA to
to, adversely affect the species or stock WETA, subject to inclusion of the
SUMMARY: In accordance with the through effects on annual rates of proposed mitigation and monitoring
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Marine Mammal Protection Act recruitment or survival.’’ measures described in the proposed
(MMPA) regulations, notification is Except with respect to certain IHA. In addition, the Commission
hereby given that NMFS has issued an activities not pertinent here, the MMPA recommends that NMFS only authorize
Incidental Harassment Authorization defines ‘‘harassment’’ as: Any act of in-season adjustments in the sizes of the
(IHA) to the San Francisco Bay Area pursuit, torment, or annoyance which (i) exclusion and/or disturbance zones
Water Emergency Transportation has the potential to injure a marine (zones of influence) if the size(s) of the
Authority (WETA) to take, by mammal or marine mammal stock in the estimated zones are determined to be
harassment, small numbers of two wild [Level A harassment]; or (ii) has too small.

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Document Created: 2015-12-18 13:09:21
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 13:09:21

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of scoping meetings on Caribbean Federal permits.
Contact		Caribbean Fishery Management Council, 270 Mu[ntilde]oz Rivera Avenue, Suite 401, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918- 1903, telephone: (787) 766-5926.
FR Citation		80 FR 10059
RIN Number		0648-XD79

80 FR 10059 - Caribbean Fishery Management Council: Scoping Meetings

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 37 (February 25, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration