CFMC Updates May 2025

UPDATES CFMC

MAY 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.

OVERVIEW OF FISHING REGULATIONS

OVERVIEW OF FISHING REGULATIONS

IN PUERTO RICO FEDERAL WATERS IN PUERTO RICO FEDERAL WATERS

Managing our Fisheries

The Caribbean Fishery Management Council (CFMC) and NOAA Fisheries oversee the conservation and management of federal resources within the U.S. Caribbean Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) This zone begins 3 nautical miles off the U.S. Virgin Islands and 9 nautical miles off Puerto Rico, extending to the 200-mile offshore boundary.

A Tailored, Island-Based Approach

The CFMC has transitioned from broad, U.S. Caribbean-wide management to Island-Based Management Plans (FMPs). By focusing on Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas/St. John individually, we can better manage:

Local Stocks: Specific species targeted in each area’s federal waters.

Economic Health: Local market demands and the livelihoods of our fishers. Culture & Heritage: The unique social and cultural attributes of each island community.

Following our April 2025 coverage of the USVI management areas, this issue focuses on the Puerto Rico FMP. We have included a printable insert in this newsletter perfect for keeping on your vessel for quick reference while fishing.

Seasonal and Area Closures

Seasonal and area closures are management tools that limit fishing activities during a certain period of time or in a specific area to protect fish populations, habitats, or spawning aggregations. Below are the seasonal and area closures applicable to Puerto Rico federal waters.

SEASONAL AND AREA CLOSURES PUERTO RICO

SEASONAL AND AREA CLOSURES PUERTO RICO

1. Bajo de Sico: Closed from October 1 through March 31 each year, to the fishing of Councilmanaged reef fish. Prohibitions apply to Council-managed reef fish in or from those parts of the Bajo de Sico management area that are in federal waters. Fishing with pots, traps, bottom longlines, gillnets, or trammel nets and anchoring are prohibited year-round in Bajo de Sico federal waters

2. Tourmaline Bank & 3. Abrir La Sierra: Closed from December 1 through the last day of February each year, to all fishing activities. The use of pots, traps, bottom longlines, gillnets or trammel nets is prohibited year-round.*

NOTE: For a list of Council-managed reef fish, see CFMC Updates | January 2025 https://issuu.com/caribbeanfmc/docs/cfmc updates january 2025 * See 50 CFR 622.436 for anchoring restrictions.

Gear and Method Restrictions

Not all gear or methods are allowed for fishing. There are restrictions that are established to protect fish populations and habitats. Read the table below to become familiarized with the gear and methods that are prohibited, and the ways that the species should be landed

Applicable to All Fisheries

Explosives, trawl nets, trammel nets, and purse seines are prohibited in federal waters

Toxic chemicals may not be used or possessed in a coral area.

Gillnets*** are prohibited for managed species and restricted for non-managed species

Applicable to Specific Fisheries Managed by the Caribbean Fishery Management Council

Reef Fish

Powerheads, and gillnets are prohibited for the harvest of reef fish in federal waters. Fish must be landed with head and fins intact.** Descending devices required to be on board vessels fishing for reef fish in federal waters.

Pelagic Fish

Gillnets are prohibited for the harvest of pelagic fish in federal waters. Fish must be landed with head and fins intact.**

Spiny Lobster

Spears, hooks, or similar devices, and gillnets are prohibited for the harvest of spiny lobster in federal waters. Spiny lobster must be landed with head and carapace intact. Harvest of egg bearing females is prohibited in federal waters.

** See 50 CFR 622.10 for exceptions to this rule. *** See 50 CFR 50 CFR 622.437 for restrictions on gillnet use.

Single Exception for the Use of Nets

Surface gillnets are allowed only for the harvest of non-federally managed fish species (e g , bait)

Only one net per vessel is allowed (max. 600 feet); it must be constantly monitored and kept afloat without touching the bottom. The net must remain at least 20 feet above the seafloor.

The gillnet mesh size must be 0.75 inches (1.9 cm) square or 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) stretched.

Seasonal Closures for Specific Species

Seasonal closures for specific species are a tool to protect species during their spawning (reproduction) period. Harvesting of the following species is prohibited in federal waters around Puerto Rico during the dates listed below.

SEASONAL CLOSURES FOR SPECIFIC SPECIES SEASONAL CLOSURES FOR SPECIFIC SPECIES

Harvest of these fish is prohibited in federal waters around the USVI during the dates listed below

February 1 - April 30

Red Grouper

Black Grouper

Tiger Grouper

Yellowfin Grouper

Yellowedge Grouper

December 1 - last day of February

ed Hindpplies only west f 67º10’ West ongitude

April 1 - June 30

October 1 - December 31

Mutton Snapper Lane Snapper

Black Snapper Blackfin Snapper

Vermilion Snapper Silk Snapper

Prohibited Harvest

Fishing for the following species in the U.S. Caribbean federal waters is prohibited allyear round. If these species are caught in federal waters, they must be returned to the water inmediately, with minimal harm.

PROHIBITED HARVEST PROHIBITED HARVEST

If these species are caught in federal waters, they must be returned immediately to the water with minimal harm.

Harvest of all corals, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers is prohibited in U.S. Caribbean federal waters.

Fishing Regulations for Queen Conch in Puerto Rican Waters

Queen Conch Fishery Management Area Map

PUERTO RICO FEDERAL WATERS

Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ)

9-200 nautical miles

PUERTO RICO LOCAL WATERS

0-3 nautical miles

Fishing for queen conch is prohibited all year round.

Fishing for queen conch is prohibited June 1 - October 31.

Minimum Size Limits in Puerto Rico Federal Waters

Keep in mind that, besides closures and harvest limits, some species have minimum size limits to catch and/or possess them. It is important to respect size limits so that the species have the opportunity to grow, reach their adult stages and reproduce.

MINIMUM SIZE LIMITS IN PUERTO RICO FEDERAL WATERS

Spiny Lobster 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) carapace length

Yellowtail Snapper 12 inches (30.5 cm ) total length

Dolphinfish 24 inches (61.0 cm) fork length

Wahoo 32 inches (81.3 cm) fork length

HOW TO MEASURE MINIMUM SIZE LIMITS HOW TO MEASURE MINIMUM SIZE LIMITS

Recreational Bag Limits

Spiny lobster, reef fish, and pelagic fish managed by the CFMC have bag limits applicable to the recreational sector. The following table shows the bag limits applicable only to those species within these groups that are managed by the CFMC in the EEZ.

Allowed quantity: Species snapper, grouper, parrotfish combined

5 fish per person/day if 3 or more persons are on board, 15 fish per vessel/day

Not to exceed: 2 parrotfish per person/day or 6 parrotfish per vessel/day.

5 fish per person/day

angelfish, grunts, wrasses, jacks, triggerfish, surgeonfish, combined

if 3 or more persons are on board, 15 fish per vessel/day

Not to exceed: 1 surgeonfish per person/day or 4 surgeonfish per vessel/day

No more than 10 spiny lobsters per vessel/day

Not to exceed 15 per vessel/day

Not to exceed 10 per vessel/day

This publication was prepared for general informational purposes only and has no legal force or effect Fishing regulations are subject to change For additional and updated regulations please visit https://www fisheries noaa gov/southeast/sustainable-fisheries/sustainable-fisheries-caribbean

Written by: Sarah Stephenson (NOAA Fisheries), María del M López Mercer (NOAA Fisheries), Cristina D Olán Martínez (CFMC staff) | Illustrations by: Puerto Rico Sea Grant (Midnight, Blue and Rainbow Parrotfishes; Red, Yellowedge and Goliath Groupers; Spotted Eagle Ray, Giant Manta Ray, and Southern Stingray; and Queen Conch); D. Peebles, D. Raver, N. Deloach for NOAA (Black, Tiger, Yelllowfin and Nassau Groupers; Lane, Black, Vermillion, Silk and Yellowtail Snappers and Spiny Lobster) | Graphic design by: Rosana López Muñoz (Rosana Studio) | Revised by: Miguel Rolón (CFMC Executive Director), Graciela García-Moliner (CFMC FMP and Habitat Specialist), Diana Martino (CFMC staff) and Jannette Ramos García (OEAP Chair)

SUMMARY OF COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL FISHING REGULATIONS IN FEDERAL WATERS OFF PUERTO RICO

The Caribbean Fishery Management Council and National Marine Fisheries Service are responsible for the conservation and management of federal fishery resources in the U S Caribbean Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which extends 9 nautical miles from the Puerto Rico coast to the offshore boundary of the EEZ For information on the regulations for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species including tunas, billfishes, and sharks, visit: https://www fisheries noaa gov/topic/atlantic-highly-migratory-species

1. Bajo de Sico: Closed from October 1 through March 31 each year, to the fishing of Council-managed reef fish. Prohibitions apply to Councilmanaged reef fish in or from those parts of the area that are in federal waters. Fishing with pots, traps, bottom longlines, gillnets, or trammel nets and anchoring are prohibited year-round in Bajo de Sico federal waters.

2. Tourmaline Bank & 3. Abrir La Sierra: Closed from December 1 through the last day of February each year, to all fishing activities The use of pots, traps, bottom longlines, gillnets or trammel nets is prohibited year-round *

Applicable to All Fisheries

Explosives, trawl nets, trammel nets, and purse seines are prohibited in federal waters

Toxic chemicals may not be used or possessed in a coral area.

Gillnets*** are prohibited for managed species and restricted for non-managed species

Applicable to Specific Fisheries Managed by the Caribbean Fishery Management Council

Reef Fish

Pelagic Fish

Spiny Lobster

Poisons, drugs or other chemicals, powerheads, and gillnets are prohibited for the harvest of reef fish in federal waters Fish must be landed with head and fins intact * Descending devices required to be on board vessels fishing for reef fish in federal waters.

Gillnets are prohibited for the harvest of pelagic fish in federal waters. Fish must be landed with head and fins intact **

Spears, hooks, or similar devices, and gillnets are prohibited for the harvest of spiny lobster in federal waters Spiny lobster must be landed with head and carapace intact Harvest of egg bearing females is prohibited in federal waters

SEASONAL CLOSURES FOR SPECIFIC SPECIES SEASONAL CLOSURES FOR SPECIFIC SPECIES

Harvest of these fish is prohibited in federal waters around Puerto Rico during the dates listed below

February 1 - April 30

Red Grouper

Black Grouper

Yellowfin Grouper ger rouper

Yellowedge Grouper

December 1 - last day of February

Red Hindpplies only west f 67º10’ West ngitude

April 1 - June 30

Mutton Snapper

Lane Snapper

Black Snapper

Blackfin Snapper

Vermilion Snapper

If these species are caught in federal waters, they must be returned immediately to the water with minimal harm

Mid Parr

Blue Parrotfish

Rainbow Parrotfish

Nassau Grouper

Silk Snapper

Queen Conch Goliath Grouper

Harvest of all corals, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers in federal waters is prohibited.

Species snapper, grouper, parrotfish combined

grunts, wrasses, jacks, triggerfish, surgeonfish, combined