80 FR 67384 - Caribbean Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings; Correction

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 211 (November 2, 2015)

The Caribbean Fishery Management Council (CFMC) is considering modifying the timing for the implementation of accountability measure (AM)-based closures in the Caribbean Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and specifying how often to revisit the modification. The Council is considering these management measures in order to ensure AM-based closures successfully achieve their conservation objective and, to the extent practicable, minimize adverse economic impacts to fishers and fishing communities, consistent with National Standard 8 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Following are the actions and management alternatives: The Draft Amendment consists of two actions: Action 1: Modify the timing for the implementation of AM-based closures in the EEZ; Alternative 1: No action. Continue AM-based closures resulting from an annual catch limit (ACL) overage beginning on December 31st of the closure year and extending backward into the year for the number of days neccesary to achieve the required reduction in landings. Preferred Alternative 2: Accountability measure-based closures resulting from an ACL overage will begin on September 30th of the closure year and would extend backward into the year for the number of days necessary to achieve the required reduction in landings. This closure start date would apply to all fishery management units (FMUs) for each of Puerto Rico commercial and recreational sectors, St. Thomas/St. John, St. Croix, and Caribbean-wide. If for any FMU in any year, 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, beginning on October 1st and continuing for however many days are needed to fulfill the required reduction. Alternative 3: Accountability measure-based closures resulting from an ACL overage will 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 landing. This 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. Alternative 4: Establish a fixed fishing closure start date for the implementation of AMs for each FMU by island/island group (A. Puerto Rico, B. St. Thomas/St. John, C. St. Croix, and D. Caribbean-wide). A different start date may be chosen for each FMU on each island/island group. The start date will begin on the last day of the identified month and go backward towards the beginning of the year. If for any FMU in any year, the number of days left in the year is not enough to achieve the required reduction in landings, then those additional days would be captured by extending the closure forward toward the end of the year.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 211 (Monday, November 2, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67384-67386]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27838]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Caribbean Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings; Correction

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

ACTION: Notice of a correction to a public hearing 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.

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SUMMARY: The Caribbean Fishery Management Council (CFMC) is considering 
modifying the timing for the implementation of accountability measure 
(AM)-based closures in the Caribbean Exclusive Economic Zone

[[Page 67385]]

(EEZ) and specifying how often to revisit the modification. The Council 
is considering these management measures in order to ensure AM-based 
closures successfully achieve their conservation objective and, to the 
extent practicable, minimize adverse economic impacts to fishers and 
fishing communities, consistent with National Standard 8 of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
    Following are the actions and management alternatives:
    The Draft Amendment consists of two actions:
    Action 1: Modify the timing for the implementation of AM-based 
closures in the EEZ;
    Alternative 1: No action. Continue AM-based closures resulting from 
an annual catch limit (ACL) overage beginning on December 31st of the 
closure year and extending backward into the year for the number of 
days neccesary to achieve the required reduction in landings.
    Preferred Alternative 2: Accountability measure-based closures 
resulting from an ACL overage will begin on September 30th of the 
closure year and would extend backward into the year for the number of 
days necessary to achieve the required reduction in landings. This 
closure start date would apply to all fishery management units (FMUs) 
for each of Puerto Rico commercial and recreational sectors, St. 
Thomas/St. John, St. Croix, and Caribbean-wide. If for any FMU in any 
year, 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, beginning on October 1st and 
continuing for however many days are needed to fulfill the required 
reduction.
    Alternative 3: Accountability measure-based closures resulting from 
an ACL overage will 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 landing. This 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.
    Alternative 4: Establish a fixed fishing closure start date for the 
implementation of AMs for each FMU by island/island group (A. Puerto 
Rico, B. St. Thomas/St. John, C. St. Croix, and D. Caribbean-wide). A 
different start date may be chosen for each FMU on each island/island 
group. The start date will begin on the last day of the identified 
month and go backward towards the beginning of the year. If for any FMU 
in any year, the number of days left in the year is not enough to 
achieve the required reduction in landings, then those additional days 
would be captured by extending the closure forward toward the end of 
the year.

A. Puerto Rico
I. Commercial:
    Sub-Alternative 4a. Closure to start the last day of the month that 
has the highest landings based on the most recent three years of 
available landings data. (See Table 2.2.1 in the Draft Amendment for 
the specific date for each FMU [commercial]).
    Sub-Alternative 4b. Closure to start the last day of the month with 
lowest landings based on the most recent three years of available 
landings data. (See Table 2.2.1 in the Draft Amendment for the specific 
date for each FMU [commercial]).
II. Recreational:
    Sub-Alternative 4c. Closure to start the last day of the month that 
has the highest landings based on the most recent three years of 
available landings data. (See Table 2.2.2 in the Draft Amendment for 
the specific date for each FMU [recreational]).
    Sub-Alternative 4d. Closure to start the last day of the month with 
lowest landings based on the most recent three years of available 
landings data. (See Table 2.2.2 in the Draft Amendment for the specific 
date for each FMU [recreational]).
B. St. Thomas/St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) (Commercial and 
Recreational combined)
    Sub-Alternative 4e. Closure to start the last day of the month that 
has the highest landings based on the most recent three years of 
available landings data. (See Table 2.2.3 in the Draft Amendment for 
the specific date for each FMU).
    Sub-Alternative 4f. Closure to start the last day of the month with 
lowest landings based on the most recent three years of available 
landings data. (See Table 2.2.3 in the Draft Amendment for the specific 
date for each FMU).
C. St. Croix, USVI (Commercial and Recreational combined)
    Sub-Alternative 4g. Closure to start the last day of the month that 
has the highest landings based on the most recent three years of 
available landings data. (See Table 2.2.4 in the Draft Amendment for 
the specific date for each FMU).
    Sub-Alternative 4h. Closure to start the last day of the month with 
lowest landings based on the most recent three years of available 
landings data. (See Table 2.2.4 in the Draft Amendment for the specific 
date for each FMU).
D. Caribbean-Wide (Commercial and Recreational combined)
    Sub-Alternative 4i. Closure to start the last day of the month that 
has the highest landings based on the most recent three years of 
available landings data. (See Table 2.2.5 in the Draft Amendment for 
the specific date for each FMU).
    Sub-Alternative 4j. Closure to start the last day of the month with 
lowest landings based on the most recent three years of available 
landings data. (See Table 2.2.5 in the Draft Amendment for the specific 
date for each FMU).

    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.
    Preferred Alternative 2: Review the approach selected no longer 
than 2 years from implementation and every 2 years thereafter.
    Alternative 3: Review the approach selected no longer than 5 years 
from implementation and every 5 years thereafter.
    Dates and Addresses: The meetings will be held on the following 
dates and locations:

In the U.S. Virgin Islands:
November 16, 2015--7 p.m.-10 p.m.--The Buccaneer Hotel, Estate Shoys, 
Christiansted, St. Croix, USVI.
November 17, 2015--7 p.m.-10 p.m.--Windward Passage Hotel, Charlotte 
Amalie, St. Thomas, USVI.
In Puerto Rico:
    November 23, 2015--7 p.m.-10 p.m.--Doubletree Hotel, De Diego 
Avenue, Santurce, Puerto Rico.
November 24, 2015--7 p.m.-10 p.m.--Mayaguez Holiday Inn, 2701 Hostos 
Avenue, Mayag[uuml]ez, Puerto Rico.
November 25, 2015--2 p.m.-5 p.m.--Holiday Inn Ponce & Tropical Casino, 
3315 Ponce By Pass, Ponce, Puerto Rico.

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: This notice is a correction to a meeting 
notice

[[Page 67386]]

that published in the Federal Register on October 26, 2015 (80 FR 
65215). Due to additional agenda items, the notice is being re-
published in its entirety.
    Copy of the draft document, ``Amendments to the US Caribbean Reef 
Fish, Spiny Lobster, and Corals and Reef Associated Plants and 
Invertebrates Fishery Management Plans: Timing of Accountability 
Measure-Based Closures'', can be found at the CFMC Web page: 
www.caribbeanfmc.com.
    Written comments can be sent to the Council not later than December 
10, 2015, 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: October 28, 2015.
Jeffrey N. Lonergan,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-27838 Filed 10-30-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P