[Federal Register: April 28, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 81)] [Notices] [Page 22834-22835] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr28ap99-26] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 042199G] Caribbean Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meetings. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Caribbean Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a series of fact-finding meetings in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates. ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific locations. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Caribbean Fishery Management Council, 268 Munoz Rivera Avenue, Suite 1108, San Juan, PR 00918-2577, telephone: (787) 766-5926. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Tuesday May 11, 1999 -- 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Location: Conference Room, Legislature Building, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. Wednesday, May 12, 1999 -- 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Location: Conference Room, Legislature Building, St. John, U.S.V.I. Thursday, May 13, 1999 -- 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Location: Conference Room, Caravelle Hotel, 44A Queen Cross Street, Christinasted, St. Croix, U.S.V.I. Monday, May 17, 1999 -- 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Location: Refugio Las Marias, Vieques, PR Tuesday, May 18, 1999 -- 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Location: El Meson Criollo, Carr. 987, Km. 3.2, Fajardo, PR Tuesday May 18, 1999 -- 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Location: Conference Room, Casa Alcaldia of Naguabo, Naguabo, PR Wednesday, May 19, 1999 -- 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. [[Page 22835]] Location: Conference Room, Ponce Hilton Hotel, 1150 Ave. Caribe, Ponce, PR Thursday, May 20, 1999 -- 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Location: Conference Room, Villa Parguera Hotel, 304 St., Km. 3.3, La Parguera, Lajas, PR Thursday, May 20, 1999 -- 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Location: Conference Room, Joyuda Beach Hotel, Rd. 102, Bo. Joyuda, Cabo Rojo, PR Friday, May 21, 1999 -- 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Location: Centro Comunal of Barrio Jarealito, Arecibo, PR The Caribbean Fishery Management Council will hold a series of fact finding meetings in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islanda to obtain input from fishery and the general public on possible management measures proposed by, among others, Project Reef Keeper and some concerned citizens. The first of the proposed measures is the phasing out of fish traps in around ten years. The idea here is to avoid the damage to the reef and fish species when traps are deployed on top of reefs, and when these are lost continuing killing fish for a long time. The Council has not taken a position on this or any of the measures that are to be discussed at the meetings. The other two measures the Council need comments on are the banning of gill nets and the prohibition to use SCUBA gear to fish for queen conch, lobster and some reef fishes, the commercial and/or recreational fisheries. The proponents of these measures believe that the use of gill nets is jeopardizing the recovery of the already over-exploited resources. Furthermore, there is the notion that SCUBA is the main reason why the stocks of queen conch and lobster are so depleted. The Council wishes to find more information on these important and drastic measures before the preparation of an option paper that could initiate the process of development of amendments to the fishery management plans to ban any of these methods of fishing written statements regarding agenda issues. Although other issues not contained in this agenda may come before this Council for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in this notice. 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, Carribbean Fishery Management Council, 268 Munoz Rivera Avenue, Suite 1108, San Juan, PR 00918-2577, telephone: (787) 766-5926, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Dated: April 22, 1999. Bruce C. Morehead, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 99-10637 Filed 4-27-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F