Caribbean Fishery Bulletin
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FB24-064 Fishery Bulletin Issue Date: October 1, 2024 Contact: Sarah Stephenson, 727-824-5305, sarah.stephenson@noaa.gov
Request for Comments on a Proposed Rule to Implement Amendment 3 to the Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas and St. John Fishery Management Plans: Management Measures for Dolphinfish and Wahoo Key Message: NOAA Fisheries requests your comments on the proposed rule to implement Amendment 3 to each of the Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas and St. John Fishery Management Plans (Amendment 3). For dolphinfish and wahoo, the proposed rule for Amendment 3 would establish minimum size limits for all fishing (commercial and recreational) and recreational bag limits in federal waters around Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Comments are due by October 28, 2024. Summary of Proposed Changes: Amendment 3 and the proposed rule would establish the following management measures. For all fishing (commercial and recreational) in U.S. Caribbean federal waters: ●
A 24-inch fork length minimum size limit for dolphinfish.
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A 32-inch fork length minimum size limit for wahoo.
For federal waters around Puerto Rico: ●
A recreational bag limit of 5 dolphinfish per person per day, not to exceed 15 dolphinfish per vessel per day, whichever is less.
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A recreational bag limit of 5 wahoo per person per day, not to exceed 10 wahoo per vessel per day, whichever is less.
For federal waters around St. Croix and St. Thomas and St. John: ●
A recreational bag limit of 10 dolphinfish per person per day, not to exceed 32 dolphinfish per vessel per day, whichever is less.
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A recreational bag limit of 2 wahoo per person per day, not to exceed 10 wahoo per vessel per day, whichever is less.
The purpose of Amendment 3 is to ensure dolphinfish and wahoo have adequate time to mature and reproduce, and to take a precautionary approach to management to protect against overfishing.