CFMC Updates FEB 2022

CFMC UPDATES FEBRUARY 2022

In the Caribbean Fishery Management Council (CFMC)'s bulletin you will find announcements, facts about marine species, and valuable information on fishing and regulations that rule this activity in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

WHAT ARE MARINE PROTECTED AREAS ?

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and marine reserves are terms that have been part of the conversations during the last CFMC meetings. According to the Marine Managed Areas Inventory done by Dr. Diana M. Beltrán, there are 70 marine managed areas just in the US Caribbean (USVI & PR)—37 in Puerto Rico and 33 in the USVI. What are these areas? What are they for?

According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) a protected area is a clearly defined geographical space, recognized, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services (e.g. fishes to consume, coastal protection, nursery for commercial fishes) and cultural values.

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As defined in the article “Áreas Marinas Protegidas” (MPAs, in English), Marejada, Vol. 11, No. 1, MPAs are a planning and conservation tool that allows to designate and protect zones with great ecological, cultural and/or historical value located in our seas. Through the designation of these areas, spaces are zoned and uses are assigned to the areas. This process contributes to minimize conflicts of uses, protect the resources, and ensure their sustainable use.

Adequate management is essential to protect MPAs. This management is linked to objectives previously defined. These areas could be conserved due to numerous reasons, whether their economic resources, biodiversity conservation, or the conservation of the species. Some uses are allowed, and others are prohibited within the MPAs, in accordance with the management objectives.

Photo: Héctor Ruiz / PR Sea Grant

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The MPAs are known with diverse names and possess different levels of protection: natural reserves, marine reserves, sanctuaries, natural parks, or monuments. These areas are intended for the improvement of the marine ecosystems’ quality, balance of the different uses of these spaces, and conservation of the species.

These areas also contribute to provide spaces for the reproduction of the fishes that we consume and ensure fishing for the future. All marine reserves, including MPAs, support the sustainability of the marine resources.

Do you live, visit or fish around a MPA? What have you observed recently?

The information previously presented was obtained from the article “Marine Protected Areas”, written by Dr. Michelle T. Schärer-Umpierre for the magazine Marejada, Vol. 11, No. 11, and the presentation “Literature Review of the Managed Marine Areas” given by Dr. Diana M. Beltrán. Dr. Schärer is a member of the CFMC Statistical and Scientific Committee, and Dr. Beltrán completed an inventory of the marine protected areas in the US Caribbean for the CFMC.

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Photo: Nicole Greaux

Joshua Quetell is a young fisher from St. Thomas. He has fished commercially since 2015. The sea has been part of his life for a long time. His father was a helper, his grandfather was a commercial fisher, and his wife’s family fishes all the time. His wife also dives and is a helper.

“[For me] fishing started as a hobby, so we put food on the table and have some fun and then I got involved in getting this commercial license and used to fish a lot with my wife’s uncle. Then I just started to do it more frequently and it became a thing,” Joshua Quetell said. He fishes for a variety of species, uses fishing gear such as electric reel and traps, and builds some of his fishing gear.

CFMC UPDATES I target a lot of snapper and grouper, and ole wife is always a staple. And we get parrotfish. And when we are doing deep dropping it can be almost anything, but it mostly sticks with yellowtail, blue runner, and mahi if they happen to be in the area at the time,” Joshua said.

Joshua is actively involved in fishing issues. Currently, he is the vice-president of the St. Thomas/St. John (STT/STJ) Fishery Advisory Committee and is a member of the STT/STJ District Advisory Panel and a member of the St. Thomas Fishermen Association.

For him, it is important to know the regulations and be ready to understand and question them. The decisions that are made affect the fisheries, the people that depend on them, and their culture. As many other fishers, Joshua perceives that the sea has undergone many changes.

Joshua catches lobster and build his own traps.

Picture provided by: Nicole Greaux y Joshua Quetell

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“Hurricanes have become more frequent. I was born just when we were hit by Hurricane Marilyn; that was 25 plus years ago. We got hit back-to-back in 2017 and from then on, hurricane seasons have been quite active. Every time that a cyclone is coming from Africa, you have to prepare in advance and protect your life and property. Do I have to move my gear? Do I have to move my boat? Do I have to have my house in order, tie everything down and then go do that?

So, I have been noticing in the last 5

years, that the water temperature has been increasing.

Summertime has been hotter; it lingers for quite a while. That kind of things increase the possibility of having a storm coming in your way. As far as I have been fishing, I’ve noticed since I started trapping, that things seem to have a cycle. Some of the other guys have told me that they have noticed that certain cycles are a little out of whack. You know, certain fish run earlier, or certain fish run late; lobsters have been late this last year," Joshua commented.

Joshua and his wife fish together.

Picture provided by: Joshua Quetell y Nicole Greaux

CFMC UPDATES Joshua spends most of his time fishing. His hobbies are ingrained into fishing. On weekends, his wife and him catch lobsters and fish, too. While building traps, he finds certain kind of therapeutic. For him, it is a repetitive but productive process, one that he appreciates. It represents a calmness that lasts for moment. Joshua knows that fishing is hard work, and he let it know to the younger generation that is beginning to fish.

“Well, I’ll tell them to expect to work hard, expect to have some difficult days and you have to be consistent and be prepared.

These guys (experienced fishers), whether they are line fishermen or trap fishermen, they put a lot of hours in and out the water, and they’ve doing these for years and they know what to expect.

But younger guys not really having the experience at hand, need to know that there is a lot of knowledge more than just fishing.

There’s a lot of knowledge about laws; there’s a lot of knowledge about, you know… The do’s and don’ts that are not necessarily laws and I would tell them to educate themselves before jumping right in,” Joshua said.

Picture provided by: Joshua Quetell y Nicole Greaux The CFMC acknowledges Nicole Greaux, St. Thomas/St. John Liaison, for interviewing Joshua Quetell.

Also, the CFMC thanks Joshua Quetell for allowing to be interviewed.

CFMC UPDATES SEASONAL CLOSURES FOR GROUPERS! Seasonal prohibition for fishing for the following species of groupers begin on February 1 and ends on April 30.

US Caribbean Federal Waters and USVI Local Waters USVI Local Waters: 0-3 mn USVI Federal Waters: 3-200 mn

Black grouper

Tiger grouper

Red grouper

(Mycteroperca bonaci)

(Mycteroperca tigris)

(Epinephelus morio)

Yellowedge grouper

Yellowfin grouper (Mycteroperca venenosa)

(Hyporthodus flavolimbatus)

THIS SPECIES ALSO HAS A SEASONAL CLOSURE IN PR LOCAL WATERS (0-9 mn)

Also, remember Bajo de Sico Seasonal Area Closure October 1 - March 31 More information: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/remin der-seasonal-fishing-restrictions-us-caribbeanfederal-waters-3

BÚSCANOS EN

www.caribbeanfmc.com Illustrations by: Sea Grant PR