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Consistent Regulations for Seasonally Closed Areas off Puerto Rico

Developing regulations for three seasonally closed areas off Puerto Rico: Abrir la Sierra Bank, Bajo de Sico, and Tourmaline Bank for Caribbean Fishery Management Council 152nd Meeting in St. Croix, USVI.

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Consistent Regulations for Seasonally Closed Areas off Puerto Rico

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  1. Developing Consistent Regulations for Three Seasonally Closed Areas off Puerto Rico: Abrir la Sierra Bank, Bajo de Sico, and Tourmaline Bank Caribbean Fishery Management Council 152nd Meeting 21-22 April 2015 St. Croix, USVI

  2. Bajo de Sico and Tourmaline Bank are under federal and territorial jurisdiction Abrir La Sierra is under federal jurisdiction only

  3. Bajo de Sico (Federal-State)

  4. Tourmaline (Federal-State)

  5. Abrir la Sierra (Federal)

  6. Seasonal Closures All fishing Area Closures Reef fish

  7. Follow-Up • Meetings with West Coast Fishers – requested by CFMC at 151st Meeting • Held 2 meetings • Cabo Rojo • Mayagüez • Consultation meeting with Cabo Rojo Fishers on ABT Feb 10 2015.docx • Consultation Meeting West Coast Fishers on ABT Mayaguez 2 10 15.docx

  8. Action 1: Modify THE Length of THE Closed Season • Alt 1: No Action • Alt 2: Modify the Bajo de Sico closed season to be Dec 1-Last day of Feb. • Alt 3: Modify the closed season to be Oct 1-March 31 • Sub-Alt a: Abrir La Sierra Bank • Sub-Alt b: Tourmaline Bank • Alt 4: Modify the closed season to be Dec 1-May 31. • Sub-Alt a: Abrir La Sierra Bank • Sub-Alt b: Bajo de Sico • Sub-Alt c: Tourmaline Bank • Alt 5: Modify the closed season to be year-round. • Sub-Alt a: Abrir La Sierra Bank • Sub-Alt b: Bajo de Sico • Sub-Alt c: Tourmaline Bank

  9. Action 1: Modify THE Length of THE Closed Season • Alt 6: Modify the closed season to be Dec 1-March 31(Preferred) • Sub-Alt a: Abrir La Sierra Bank (Preferred) • Sub-Alt b: Bajo de Sico(Preferred) • Sub-Alt c: Tourmaline Bank (Preferred)

  10. Recommendations from meetings with fishers on 10 February 2015 • Action 1: Modify length of seasonal closure • Alt 2: Modify seasonal closure at Bajo de Sico • December 1- February 28 all three areas.

  11. Action 2: Modify Reef Fish Fishing Activities • Alt 1: No Action • Alt 2: Prohibit fishing for Council-managed reef fish in Bajode Sico during the seasonal closure established in Action 1 • Alt 3: Prohibit fishing for and possession ofCouncil- managed reef fish during the seasonal closure established in Action 1 (Preferred) • Sub-Alt a: Abrir La Sierra Bank (Preferred) • Sub-Alt b: Tourmaline Bank (Preferred)

  12. Recommendations from meetings with fishers on 10 February 2015 • Action 2 Modify reef fish fishing activities • Prohibit only fishing for and possession of reef fish species except allowing for yellowtail snapper fishing in all three areas. • Deeper waters are used to fish deep water snappers and this fishery should be allowed.

  13. Action 3: Modify Spiny Lobster Fishing Activities • Alt 1: No Action  • Alt 2: Prohibit fishing for spiny lobster in Bajo de Sico during the seasonal closure established in Action 1 • Alt 3: Prohibit fishing for and possession of spiny lobster during the seasonal closure established in Action 1 • Sub-Alt a: Abrir La Sierra Bank • Sub-Alt b: Bajo de Sico • Sub-Alt c: Tourmaline Bank • Alt 4: Prohibit fishing for spiny lobster year-round • Sub-Alt a: Abrir La Sierra Bank • Sub-Alt b: Bajo de Sico • Sub-Alt c: Tourmaline Bank • Alt 5: Prohibit fishing for and possession of spiny lobster year-round • Sub-Alt a: Abrir La Sierra Bank • Sub-Alt b: Bajo de Sico • Sub-Alt c: Tourmaline Bank

  14. Action 3: Modify Spiny Lobster Fishing Activities • Alt 6: Allow fishing for spiny lobster year-round(Preferred) • Sub- Alt a: Abrir La Sierra Bank (Preferred) • Sub- Alt b: Bajo de Sico(Preferred) • Sub- Alt c: Tourmaline Bank (Preferred)

  15. Recommendations from meetings with fishers on 10 February 2015 • Action 3: Modify spiny lobster fishing activity • Alt 6: Allow fishing for spiny lobster year-round (follows from discussion on Action 2)

  16. Action 4: Prohibit Anchoring • Alt 1: No Action • Alt 2: Prohibit anchoring during the seasonal closure established in Action 1 • Sub-Alternative a: Abrir La Sierra Bank • Sub-Alternative b: Bajo de Sico • Sub-Alternative c: Tourmaline Bank • Alt 3: Prohibit anchoring year-round (Preferred) • Sub-Alternative a: Abrir La Sierra Bank (Preferred) • Sub-Alternative b: Tourmaline Bank (Preferred)

  17. Recommendations from meetings with fishers on 10 February 2015 • Action 4: Anchoring • Allow anchoring by commercial fishers using a “pillo” (retrieval system or garampín (grappling anchor) in all three areas. • Do not allow anchoring with Danforth anchors. • Allow anchoring for yellowtail snapper fishing:this fishery is of great economic importance in the area.

  18. Action 5: Modify HMS Fishing Activities • Alt 1:  No Action • Alt 2: Upon consent to the request of the Council, prohibit bottom longline fishing for HMS year- round in Bajo de Sico(Preferred) • Alt 3: Upon consent to the request of the Council, prohibit fishing for, and possession of, HMS in some or all of the three areas during the seasonal closure established in Action 1 • Sub-Alt a: Abrir La Sierra Bank • Sub-Alt b: Bajo de Sico • Sub-Alt c: Tourmaline Bank • Alt 4: Upon consent to the request of the Council, prohibit fishing for, and possession of,HMS in some or all of the three areas during the seasonal closure established in Action 1, with an exception that would allow surface trolling for all HMS, as defined at §635.21(a)(4)(iv), and speargun fishing gear to fish for bigeye, albacore, yellowfin and skipjack (BAYS) tunas. (Preferred) • Sub-Alt a: Abrir La Sierra Bank (Preferred) • Sub-Alt b: Bajo de Sico(Preferred) • Sub-Alt c: Tourmaline Bank (Preferred)

  19. Recommendations from meetings with fishers on 10 February 2015 • Action 5: Modify HMS fishing activities • Allow trolling. Redefine trolling as not to be HMS –because it is too fast for pelagics. • Allow jigging for pelagics such as wahoo and blackfins

  20. Action 6: Modify Spearfishing Activities • Alt 1: No Action: Retain the existing spearfishing regulations in each of the Abrir La Sierra Bank, Bajo de Sico, and Tourmaline Bank managed areas. • Alt 2: Prohibit spearfishing for Council-managed reef fish during the seasonalclosure established in Action 1(Preferred) • Sub-Alt a: Abrir La Sierra Bank (Preferred) • Sub-Alt b: Bajo de Sico(Preferred) • Sub-Alt c: Tourmaline Bank (Preferred) • Alt 3: Prohibit spearfishing for all non-HMS-managed species, includingCouncil-managed reef fish and coastal migratory pelagics, during the seasonal closure established in Action 1 • Sub-Alt a: Abrir La Sierra Bank • Sub-Alt b: Bajo de Sico • Sub-Alt c: Tourmaline Bank • Alt 4: Prohibit spearfishing for all non-HMS-managed species, includingCouncil-managed reef fish and coastal migratory pelagics, year-round • Sub-Alt a: Abrir La Sierra Bank • Sub-Alt b: Bajo de Sico • Sub-Alt c: Tourmaline Bank

  21. Recommendations from meetings with fishers on 10 February 2015 • Action 6: Modify spearfishing activities • Allow for carrying of spear gun while diving for lobster (and conch from state waters). • Allow spear for pelagics (possible to catch reef fish but ethical not to catch reef fish if not allowed).

  22. Recommendations from meetings with fishers on 10 February 2015 • While transiting through closed areas gear should be stowed. It is a safety issue to allow transit through these areas due to the weather when returning to shore. • Increase enforcement • Confusing regulations at present and should be simplified in order for the regulations to be effective. This would solve the problem with enforcement.

  23. Recommendations from meetings with fishers on 10 February 2015 • There is a need to evaluate the closures and determine if they are working or not. If they are not working then they should be eliminated.

  24. Additional Comments • Public Comment Period • PEW Letter (English and Spanish)

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