Caribbean Amendments and Actions Status
April 2026
Maria López-Mercer, NMFS SERO
189th Caribbean Fishery Management Council Meeting
St. Croix, USVI
April 21-22, 2026
Caribbean Amendments and Actions Status
Amendment 2 to all FMPs:
Trawl, Net Gear, and
Descending Devices
Framework 3 to USVI FMPs:
SEDAR 80 Queen
Amendment 4 to Puerto Rico FMP: Rainbow Runner
Reclassification
Effective since November 3, 2025, except Descending Device Requirement
Device Requirement
Years: 2025 (Dec) - 2026
Caribbean Amendments and Actions Status Years: 2025-2026
Amendment/ Action Why?
Modification of Pelagic Accountability Measures (AM)
- Undefined AM corrective action
- Get Council input - Focus on AM trigger Discussed options Working Group refined options Review Options Paper
SEDAR 91
Spiny Lobster
St. Croix
St. Thomas/St. John
SEDAR 91
Spiny Lobster Puerto Rico
- Update Assessments
- Revise ACLs
- Discussed SSC recomms.
- Council selected p* - Provided options for ACL buffers Development of Draft Framework Action Council discusses Action, selects preferred alts. *Final Action
- Update Assessment - Revise ACL - Pending SEDAR 91 updates SEFSC, SSC reviews
SEDAR 84 -
Yellowtail PR, STT/STJ
Stoplight
Parrotfish STX - Stock Assessments - Revise ACLs SSC/SEFSC updates
1) SSC Meeting (Apr 8-10) Review & ABC recomm. (2) Council Review @ Mtg
(1) SSC Meeting (Apr 8-10) Review & ABC recomm. (2) Council Review @ Mtg
Caribbean Amendments and Actions Status Years: 2025-2026
Amendment/Action Why?
Review stocks –Need for conservation and management (Matrix)
Priority 1 Aug 2025 - Maximize mgt. efficiency - Seafood E.O. 14276 Discussed Working Group draft Decision Tree Review Decision Tree and Provide Input
Revision of AMs for Puerto Rico Spiny Lobster - Address ACL overages - Reevaluate current AMs On hold until SEDAR 91 reviews TBD
Caribbean Amendments and Actions Status Years: 2025-2026
Prioritized List of Actions to NMFS on EO 14276
• Revision of Incompatible Regulations between Territorial and Federal Waters
• Revision of Duplicative Regulations in Federal Waters
• Puerto Rico West Coast Marine Managed Areas (i.e., Tourmaline, Abrir La Sierra)
• Exploration of Carry-over of Unused ACLs
• SEDAR 103 – US Caribbean Application of Alternative Assessment Methods
• Other (Council to provide input)
Caribbean Amendments and Actions Status Years: 2025-2026
Important Reminders for Fishers
Size limits for ALL harvest of dolphin and wahoo are in place.
Recreational bag limits for dolphin and wahoo are in place.
Prohibition on the use of nets (except for specific gillnet for certain species - See regs) in is in place in federal waters.
Descending device requirement for reef fish fishing is in place (since April 1, 2026).
Thanks to all fishers out there that are already using the devices!