Caribbean Reef Fish

FB11-107: NOAA Fisheries Service Announces New Regulations for Reef Fish, Queen Conch, Spiny Lobster, and Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates in the U.S. Caribbean

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FB11-106: NOAA Fisheries Service Announces New Regulations for Reef Fish and Queen Conch in the U.S. Caribbean

Please click here to view this bulletin in Spanish
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2010 Caribbean Annual Catch Limit Amendment

2011 Caribbean Annual Catch Limit Amendment

Bajo de Sico Seasonal Closure

 

2010 Caribbean Annual Catch Limit Amendment
	Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)
	Final Rule
	List of Species

2011 Caribbean Annual Catch Limit Amendment
	Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)
	Final Rule
	List of Species

Bajo de Sico Seasonal Closure
	Regulatory Amendment
	Final Rule

 

• Possession of red, black, tiger, yellowfin and yellowedge grouper in the EEZ is prohibited from February 1 through April 30 of each year.
  
  
• Possession of black, blackfin, vermilion and silk snapper in the EEZ is prohibited from October 1 through December 31 of each year.
  
  
• Possession of mutton snapper and lane snapper in the EEZ is prohibited from April 1 through June 30 of each year.
  
  
• There is an additional mutton snapper spawning aggregation area closure from March 1 through June 30 in the area bounded by the following coordinates:

  A 17°37.8’ N   64°53.0’ W
  B 17°39.0’ N   64°53.0’ W
  C 17°39.0’ N   64°50.5’ W
  D 17°38.1’ N   64°50.5’ W
  E 17°37.8’ N   64°52.5’ W
  A 17°37.8’ N   64°53.0’ W

• Yellowtail snapper must be twelve (12) inches total length. The yellowtail snapper must be landed (brought to shore) whole.
  
  
• Fishing is prohibited in those parts of the following areas that are in the EEZ from December 1 through February 28, each year:

  East of St. Croix

  A 17°50.2’ N   64°27.9’ W

  B 17°50.1’ N   64°26.1’ W

  C 17°49.2’ N   64°25.8’ W

  D 17°48.6’ N   64°25.8’ W

  E 17°48.1’ N   64°26.1’ W

  F 17°47.5’ N   64°26.9’ W

  A 17°50.2’ N   64°27.9’ W

Tourmaline Bank

A 18°11.2’ N   67°22.4’ W

B 18°11.2’ N   67°19.2’ W

C 18°08.2’ N   67°19.2’ W

D 18°08.2’ N   67°22.4’ W

A 18°11.2’ N   67°22.4’ W

Abrir La Sierra Bank

A 18°06.5’ N   67°26.9’ W

B 18°06.5’ N   67°23.9’ W

C 18°03.5’ N   6723.9’ W

D 18°03.5’ N   67°26.9’ W

A 18°06.5’ N   67°26.9’ W

Additional Closed Area: West of 67°10'W Longitude

• Fishing for any species any anchoring by fishing vessels is prohibited in the Hind Bank Marine Conservation District (MCD). Hind Bank MCD, south of St. Thomas, is bounded by rhumb lines connecting, in order, the following coordinates:

  A 18°13.2’ N   65°06.0’ W
  B 18°13.2’ N   64°59.0’ W
  C 18°11.8’ N   64°59.0’ W
  D 18°10.7’ N   65°06.0’ W
  A 18°13.2’ N   65°06.0’ W

• Closure of the Grammanik Bank to fishing for or possession of any species of fish, except highly migratory species, from February 1 through April 30, each year.

  A 18°11.898' N   64°56.328' W
  B 18°11.645' N   64°56.225' W
  C 18°11.058' N   64°57.810' W
  D 18°11.311' N   64°57.913' W
  A 18°11.898' N   64°56.328' W

• Fishing for and possession of Caribbean reef fish in or from the EEZ portion of Bajo de Sico is prohibited from October 1 through March 31, each year. Bajo de Sico, west of Puerto Rico, is bounded by rhumb lines connecting, in order, the following coordinates:

  A 18°15.7’ N   67°26.4’ W

  B 18°15.7’ N   67°23.2’ W

  C 18°12.7’ N   67°23.2’ W

  D 18°12.7’ N   67°26.4’ W

  A 18°15.7’ N   67°26.4’ W

  
  
• Fishing for and possession of Nassau and goliath grouper is PROHIBITED.

• Prohibition on the filleting of fish at sea in the EEZ and requirement that fish captured or possessed in the EEZ be landed with heads and fins intact, with minor exceptions.
  
  
• Requirement that gill nets used to fish for bait fish in the EEZ be tended at all times.
  

• Requirement to have an anchor retrieval system for all vessels that fish for or possess Caribbean reef fish species in or from the EEZ.
  
  
• Use of poisons, drugs, other chemicals, explosives, and gill/trammel nets are PROHIBITED.

Please Note: This summary is intended to provide appropriate information to fishers about regulations and the sustainable use of marine fishery resources in the Caribbean.  This summary is for general information purposes. Fishery Regulations are subject to changes. For more information on fishery regulations consult the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 622 or the NOAA Fisheries Service Southeast Regional Office Fishery Regulation website.