UPDATES CFMC
September 2024
In the Caribbean Fishery Management Council (CFMC)'s bulletin you will find announcements, facts about marine species, and valuable information on fishing rules and regulations for Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
PEPCO IS
O N F I R E ! O N F I R E !
During the months of June and July 2024, three workshops of the Education Program for Commercial Fishers (PEPCO, by its acronym in Spanish) were held in: the Los Machos Fishing Village, Ceiba, PR, the Culebra Fishing Association and the Stella Community Center in Rincón, PR.
PEPCO in Culebra, PR
PEPCO in Rincón, PR
PEPCO in Ceiba, PR
These workshops are possible through a collaboration between the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA) and the Caribbean Fishery Management Council (CFMC), and by agreement with the fishing communities of Puerto Rico
The workshops include topics such as: licenses, permits, fishing statistics, and local and federal regulations for commercial fishing
“PEPCO is a learning experience towards the management and conservation of fishery resources,” said Wilson Santiago Soler, Fisheries Liaison Officer in Puerto Rico and PEPCO Coordinator.
AND PEPCO COORDINATOR
PEPCO participants in Rincón, PR
PEPCO participants in Ceiba, PR
PEPCO participants in Culebra, PR
Photo provided by: Wilson Santiago Soler
NICOLÁS GÓME
YOUNG FISHER AND CO-FOUND YOUNG FISHER AND CO-FOUND THE CULEBRA FISHING ASSOCIA THE CULEBRA FISHING ASSOCIA
Recently, we had the opportunity to talk with Gómez, a young fisher from Culebra. PR. We by his leadership in Culebra and his passion fo community. We share the interview with Nico
Since when have you been fishing and who taught you?
How do
you describe fishing?
I have been fishing since I was 8 years old. My family taught me: my father, my godfather and godmother.
I describe Puerto Rico's fishing in three sectors. Fishing is mostly for subsistence, to eat at home or share with neighbors. A small-scale commercial sector also persists, providing food security and economic development. There is also luxury fishing, and subsistence fishing with high cultural value. In general, I believe that fishing in Puerto Rico is diverse, dynamic and highly "customized" to the needs, skills and tastes of each fisher. These are attributes that I perceive as positive in the face of the challenges we are coping with, because they allow us to adapt more easily. That said, I believe that our fishing is not accessible enough: we need to learn and teach more about responsible fishing, and we need that Puerto Rican consumers to have more access to local fish.
What species do you fish the most and what gears do you use to capture them?
My family continues to fish commercially with pots and line from a small boat, catching mostly lobster, but also reef fish. I did this type of fishing until a few years ago. Now, I practice freediving with a harpoon, rope and my hands, but for my consumption at home, not to sell the catch. I also grow oysters as part of an experimental project.
Photo provided by: Jannette Ramos García.
At the community level, what activities or groups are you involved in?
I am co-founder and secretary of the Culebra Fishing Association, an organization made up of commercial and recreational fishers. We are working towards a future where we live with community well-being and economic sustenance, supported by a functional and resilient coastal environment. We are working on this through self-management of the fishing and marine sector of Culebra in areas, such as fishing and diving education for young people, a fish market with participatory rules, the protection of the Canal Luis Peña Natural Reserve, and the rescue of the Fishing Village from Culebra. Dozens of volunteers have worked consistently for more than 2 years to have a historic village with a safe roof, cisterns, energized with solar panels, with a saltwater system for nurseries, and with the necessary equipment for the health and quality of the fish.
Do you think the marine environment has changed in the time you have been fishing? If you think so, what changes have you seen?
Although I am only 29 years old, many environmental changes are evident. For example, there is less live coral, there are more invasive sea grasses, more coral diseases, more algae, and fewer urchins. The sea temperature is warmer. In Culebra specifically, I have noticed how the quality of the water has worsened: it is more cloudy as a result of the mud that comes down from the basins that have been altered due to the lack of erosion and sedimentation control. Something that I remember clearly is the absence of sargassum, which is now a serious problem for the coasts But there are positive changes too! I have seen more juvenile grouper (E. striatus) in recent years. I have also seen how coral restoration works, creating habitat for fish Since humans are also part of the environment, I want to mention that I have also seen positive changes among fishers. Now I see more solidarity!
How do you see the future of fishing in Puerto Rico?
I have hope for a positive future. Fishing connects us to our food, nature, and ourselves. I believe that fishing has the potential to remedy many of the environmental and social problems that we face as an archipelago. I firmly believe that we can effectively guard ecosystems and prevent environmental crimes. It is up to us, as a sector, to do this work, because our businesses depend on sustainable fishing, and also because we have a responsibility to provide more nutritious food to Puerto Rico.
How do you think fishers can become more involved in decision-making and management of fishing resources?
I think we need to come together more as a fishing sector, especially the commercial sector. More dialogue is needed between communities and regions, and we need to listen to each other and agree on strategies. I have seen firsthand what can be achieved if we make decisions in a participatory way. If we have a constant dialogie, we can mitigate conflicts and strengthen cooperation. Yes, we have to get more involved in the processes of the CFMC (Council), the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA), the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the municipalities, among others, to ensure that there is representation, but we also have to organize and increase our collective capacity to promote the changes in public policy that are needed.
Another point is that fishing management must be based on science, in which values are knowledge of the fishers are included. Not only do we have to get involved in the management already existing by the government, but we can manage it in our communities. I believe in fishing management from fishing communities In order to better understand how we adapt and break down the barriers that prevent us from transforming the sector; we need to commit to better organizing our data in each community and agencies, we can better understand each
Anything else you want to share.
Count on the Culebra Fishing Association to continue the conversation!
Photos provided by Nicolás Gómez Andújar himself
Reminder Reminder
October 1 - December 31
From October 1 to December 31, fishing for Silk, Blackfin, Black and Vermilion snappers is prohibited in federal waters (Puerto Rico: 9-200 nautical miles; USVI: 3-200 nautical miles). Closed seasons protect species during the reproductive season.
DO NOT CATCH, TRANSPORT, SELL, BUY OR CONSUME THESE SPECIES DURING THE CLOSED SEASON.
The illustrations used in this bulletin were provided by Puerto Rico Sea Grant Program.
silk snapper / chillo (Lutjanus vivanus)
blackfin snapper / (Lutjanus buccanella)
black snapper / chopa negra (Apsilus dentatus)
vermilion snapper / besugo (Rhomboplites aurorubens)