Caribbean Fishery Bulletin
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FB24-066 Fishery Bulletin Issue Date: October 8, 2024 Contact: María López-Mercer, 727-824-5305, maria.lopez@noaa.gov
Request for Comments: Proposed Changes to Net Gear Regulations and Requirements for Descending Devices for Reef Fish Fishing in U.S. Caribbean Federal Waters Key Message: NOAA Fisheries requests your comments on a proposed rule to implement Amendment 2 to each of the Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas and St. John Fishery Management Plans. 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. The rule would also require a descending device to be available and ready for use when fishing for reef fish species managed by the Caribbean Fishery Management Council (Council) in federal waters around Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas and St. John. Comments on this proposed rule are due by October 30, 2024. Summary of Proposed Changes: Net Gear regulation changes in federal waters around Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands: • • •
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 Council, which include reef fish, spiny lobster, and pelagic species; and Restrict the use of gillnets in fisheries not managed by the Council to gillnets that meet the following requirements: (1) the gillnet mesh size must be 0.75 inches (1.9 centimeters) square or 1.5 inches (3.8 centimeters) stretched; (2) one gillnet up to 600 feet (182.9 meters) in length would be allowed per vessel; (3) the gillnet must be used 20 feet (6.1 meters) or more above the bottom; and (4) the gillnet must be tended at all times.
Descending Device requirement in federal waters around Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands: • • •
A descending device should be available and ready for use on each fishing vessel (commercial and recreational) when fishing for reef fish species managed by the Council. A descending device is an instrument capable of releasing a fish at the depth from which the fish was caught. The proposed rule would require a minimum of a 16-ounce weight and a minimum length of 60 feet (18.3 meters) of line attached to the descending device.