Regulatory amendment to the fishery management plan for queen conch resources of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands establishing compatible closures including a regulatory impact review and an environmental assessment

"At the June 2009 meeting, the Caribbean Fishery Management Council (Council) voted to amend the Fishery Management Plan for Queen Conch Resources of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands (U.S.V.I.) to establish compatible regulations with U.S.V.I. territorial regulations. At the September 2010 meeting, the Council voted to submit the regulatory amendment to the Secretary for review. Currently, fishing for and possession of queen conch is prohibited in the Caribbean EEZ, with the exception of an area known as Lang Bank east of St. Croix, which is open to harvest of queen conch from October 1 through June 30. In St. Croix, U.S.V.I. territorial waters, queen conch is managed under a 50,000 pound quota and a seasonal closure from June 1 through October 31. The rule will implement compatible closures with the U.S.V.I. territorial regulations to close the queen conch fishery after the local government has determined the quota in St. Croix has been reached. The rule will also extend the seasonal closure in federal waters to June 1 through October 31, each year, consistent with the territorial seasonal closure"--Cover letter.