Outreach and Education Advisory Panel Report | 189 CFMC | April 2026

Outreach and Education Advisory Panel Report

Reportto theCouncil

189thCFMC

Regular Meeting

April 21 -22, 2026

TheBuccaneerHotel, St. Croix, USVI

During this reporting period, OEAP continued to strengthen outreach and education efforts across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, focusing on direct engagement with fishers, students, and the general public.

Key activities included community events, school presentations, material development, and interagency collaboration to support fisheries education and awareness.

Outreach Activities

Educational talk on lionfish at Mildred Arroyo Cardoza Elementary School in PuertonReal, Cabo Rojo.

Focused on invasive species impacts, fisheries, and ecosystem awareness

Educational

materials

During this period:

• Educational materials were reproduced to support the work of CFMC liaisons

• These materials are being used in workshops, schools, and community outreach activities.

2027 Calendar

Content recognizing multi generational fishing families, originally planned for the 2026 calendar, was completed and submitted for inclusion in the 2027 calendar.

Virgin Islands Agrifest

Participation in AgriFest, St. Croix (February 2026)

Engaged with a diverse audience including farmers, fishers, and families

Distributed educational materials and promoted CFMC initiatives

Fisher’s Day Participation

Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture

Fish Species Catalog

The fish species catalog requested by fishers and District Advisory Panel members and doctor Álida Ortiz began has been completed by me and submitted for revision.

This resource aims to:

• Improve species identification

• Support regulatory understanding

• Assist both fishers and consumers

New Outreach Tool

Sticker design was completed featuring 10 species managed under CFMC.

New Outreach Tool

An interactive poster design is in process featuring the 10 species depicted in the sticker.

68f5008

Thank you!

Questions?