UPDATES CFMC
August 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.
MREP MREP IN PUERTO RICO! IN PUERTO RICO!
The Marine Resource Education Program (MREP) gave a workshop in August 22-25, 2024 in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. Fisheries science and management, stock assessments, fish biology, ecosystems, participation of fishers in decision-making processes, among other topics, were discussed during the workshop.
Participants and work team of MREP Puerto Rico 2024.
Photos provided by: Cristina Olán
Twenty-eight commercial and recreational fishers attended this educational activity, that was held in Puerto Rico for the sixth time. The first MREP workshop in Puerto Rico was held on January 2015, and has been successfully repeated in 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Representatives of NOAA Fisheries, Caribbean Fishery Management Council (CFMC), Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER), universities and institutions dedicated to science and conservation were part of the team that led the discussions, presentations and teamwork activities offered during the workshop.
Please contact the following persons to let them know your interest and get more information:
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The importance of the participation of fishers in management and decision-making processes was the central theme in many of the discussion panels during the workshop
Photos provided by: Cristina Olán
During the workshop, laboratory activities were offered focused on the study of the life cycles, age, and reproduction of fish. Photos provided by: Cristina Olán.
Teamwork and dialogue are essential components of the MREP workshops
Photos provided by: Cristina Olán.
MREP hosts MREP hosts share their impressions
The MREP hosts are fishers who have participated in MREP in previous years In MREP PR 2024, Anthony Elizo Vargas 'Ritmicano' and Denise Hurtado 'La Peja' served as hosts. Both shared their thoughts about the workshop with us.
ANTHONY ELIZO VARGAS “RITMICANO”
Commercial deep-water and seasonal pelagic fisher CFMC, PUERTO RICO DISTRICT ADVISORY PANEL MEMBER
My first participation in MREP was in 2022, in La Parguera, Lajas, PR. Marcos Hanke (charter fisher and former CFMC Chair) extended me the invitation an invitation to participate Also, I had already heard about MREP from some colleagues MREP was a tremendous experience, full of knowledge MREP provided me with important and valuable information about our marine resources. In MREP, you learn more about how science, regulations, closed seasons and ecosystems work. One of the positive things I see in MREP is the opportunity to educate, learn, and come together. MREP must continue supporting a strong, trained and capable community that can take ownership of the management and conservation fishing resources
Commercial fisher at Team La Peja, Aguadilla, PR
I was a participant in the MREP 2023 Workshop in Fajardo, PR I am very grateful fo Being chosen as host was a great privilege. Being part of the MREP team and being able to contribute so that others receive the same education as I received was very satisfying. On a personal level, it helped me strengthen and improve communication and facilitation skills. Like any profession, we must always invest in continuing education to improve and discover all opportunities, strengthen the economy and, in turn, contribute to the ecological balance MREP provides this opportunity to fishers, and is an investment in the present and future of fishing. The change in the perspective of the participants is powerful. I believe that the conservation and sustainability of the marine ecosystem is the key to securing our resources. Again, I appreciate the opportunity.
DENISE HURTADO “LA PEJA”
*Photo provided by: Denise Hurtado
Dr Michelle T Schärer Umpierre demonstrates the use of the MEROS PR tool Photos provided by: Jannette Ramos García