Caribbean Fishery Bulletin
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FB24-057 Fishery Bulletin Issue Date: August 30, 2024 Contact: Maria Lopez-Mercer, 727-824-5305, maria.lopez@noaa.gov
Request for Comments on an Amendment to Modify the Management of Net Gear and to Minimize Reef Fish Mortality in U.S. Caribbean Federal Waters Key Message: NOAA Fisheries requests your comments on Amendment 2 to each of the Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas and St. John Fishery Management Plans. Amendment 2 and the proposed rule would modify the use of trawls, trammel nets, gillnets, and purse seines in fisheries located in federal waters around Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas and St. John. Amendment 2 would also require a descending device to be available and ready for use when fishing for Council-managed reef fish species in federal waters around Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas and St. John. Comments on this amendment are due by October 28, 2024. Summary of Proposed Changes: •
In federal waters around Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas and St. John, Amendment 2 and the proposed rule would establish the following management measures regarding nets: prohibit the use of trawls, trammel nets, and purse seines for all fishing (commercial and recreational, all species); ● prohibit the use of gillnets in fisheries managed by the Caribbean Fishery Management Council, which include reef fish, spiny lobster, and pelagic species; ● restrict the use of gillnets in non-federally managed fisheries to gillnets that meet the following requirements: (1) the gillnet mesh size must be 0.75 inches (1.9 cm) square or 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) stretched; (2) one gillnet up to 600 feet (182.9 m) in length would be allowed per vessel; (3) the gillnet must be used 20 feet (6.1 m) or more above the bottom; and (4) the gillnet must be tended at all times. ●
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Amendment 2 would also require a descending device be available and ready for use on each fishing vessel when fishing for reef fish species managed by the Caribbean Fishery Management Council in federal waters around Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas and St. John.
The purpose of Amendment 2 and the proposed rule is to prevent future, potential negative impacts associated with the use of these fishing gear types to sensitive habitats present in U.S. Caribbean federal waters, to eliminate the potential for bycatch associated with each of these types of fishing