CFMC
UPDATES
January 2025
The Caribbean Fishery Management Council (CFMC) newsletter contains activity announcements, facts on various marine species, and valuable information on fishing and the regulations that govern this activity in federal waters around Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
SALVAPEJE : DESCENDING DEVICES NOAA Fisheries, the federal agency responsible for U.S. Caribbean Federal Waters the stewardship of the nation’s ocean resources Federal waters in Puerto Rico extend and their habitat, approved Amendment 2 to the seaward from 9 to 200 nautical miles three Fishery Management Plans for the U.S. from shore and in the U.S. Virgin Caribbean (Puerto Rico, St. Thomas/St. John and Islands, extend seaward from 3 to St. Croix). Amendment 2 was developed by the 200 nautical miles from shore. CFMC and NOAA Fisheries, and requires that all fishers have a descending device ready for use on each fishing vessel when fishing or possessing reef fish managed by the CFMC in federal waters around Puerto Rico, St. Thomas/St. John and St. Croix. Having a descending device available and ready for use could help reduce discard mortality of federally managed reef fish affected by barotrauma. The requirement does not mandate that the device be used to release every fish, but that the device should be available for use when necessary (i.e., when the fish is showing signs of barotrauma). The descending device helps the released fish swim back to the bottom and not die.
Photo: Marcos Hanke / 787 Fishing Charters
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