CFMC Updates JUNE 2022

CFMC UPDATES JUNE 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.

ISLAND-BASED FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLANS Fishing in the US Caribbean presents

done in the US Caribbean Economic

a great diversity. Although we, as

Exclusive Zone waters. Instead of

inhabitants of the Caribbean, share

managing fisheries by species, the

similar environments, culture, and

new management plans will provide

history, we also have elements that

management measures for each

imply certain differences among our

island separately. Here, we share

islands. That is why the Caribbean

some of the background of the

Fishery Management Council (CFMC)

process of developing of the Island-

is in the process of transitioning the

Based Fisheries Management Plans

way that fisheries management is

(IBFMPs).

A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY In 2012, the CFMC initiated a discussion about an island-based approach to the fishery management through public hearings and workshops with the participation of fishers and the general public, and meetings with the District Advisory Panels and the Scientific and Statistical Committee.

CFMC UPDATES

During the hearings and the

The unique characteristics of the

meetings, an island-based approach

fishery resources within each island

to the management of fisheries in

or island group, and the communities

the U.S. Caribbean Economic

that are dependent on those

Exclusive Zone was proposed in

resources were highlighted. The

order to address the requests from

NMFS and the Council consider that

fishers, fishing community

the Island-Based Fishery

representatives, and the

Management Plans (IBFMPs) account

governments of Puerto Rico and the

better for differences among the

USVI.

U.S. Caribbean islands with respect

The Council considered the

differences among the islands when

to culture, markets, fishing gear

addressing fisheries management in

used, seafood preferences, and the

the U.S. Caribbean.

ecological impacts.

Foto: www.weather.gov

The Council responded to these public requests by deciding to shift from a U.S. Caribbean-wide management approach to an island-based management approach. This decision was supported by an Environmental Evaluation completed on 2014. Based on the Environmental Evaluation, the Council proceeded to develop the IBFMPs for each island: Puerto Rico, St. Croix and St. Thomas/St. John. Each plan was assessed in light of three Environmental Evaluations done separately.

These evaluations were finalized in 2020.

CFMC UPDATES WHICH MEASURES ARE KEPT AND WHICH ARE REVISED BY THE IBFMPS? The IBFMPs retain most of the management measures established under the U.S. Caribbean-wide fishery management plans that apply to the respective island management areas, including seasonal and area closures, minimum size limits, and recreational bag limits. In addition, the IBFMPs revise certain management measures, such as the species included for federal management, to adapt to the individual characteristics of Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and St. John, and St. Croix.

WHAT HAPPENED IN 2020?

On June 26, 2020, NMFS published in the Federal Register a notice of availability for the three island-based FMPs and requested public comment (85 FR 38350). NMFS received the comments. On September 22, 2020, the Secretary of Commerce approved the three Island-Based FMPs under section 304(a)(3) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. NMFS will respond to any relevant comments from the notice of availability and this proposed rule in any final rule for this action. These plans when implemented will retain the management measures applicable to the specific management areas, and implement other management measures from the approved IBFMPs.

CFMC UPDATES WHAT'S COMING IN JUNE 2022 ?

Now, you can comment on the proposed rule for the implementation of the plans following the rules for participation provided by the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.

Visit https://www.regulations.gov

Write "NOAA-NMFS-2019-0155" in the search box.

Look for the proposed rule

dated May 19, 2022 and click the

"Comment" icon.

Enter or attach your comments., and then, click on the

"Submit Comment"

icon.

To submit your comments through postal mail,

you hace to submit

them to: María del Mar López-Mercer Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

CFMC UPDATES

Photos: Sol García/JJ Fishing Adventures

If you go online and search for prominent fishers in the Caribbean, it is very likely you will run into JJ Fishing Adventures.

Jadriel Yomar John, better known as JJ, is a 9-year old boy (he turns 10 in July) from St. Croix who has a passion for fishing. He fishes since he was 6, and assures us he wants to be a commercial fisherman when he grows up.

“I like the sport. I like to do it; it’s fun. I like every gear of fishing and the one I like the most is fishing for mahi. But I also like to shoot grunt with the Hawaiian sling or speargun,” JJ told us, in between telling us how he captures mahi with lines and live sprat.

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He likes net fishing for snappers, line fishing from shore, and use rod fishing.

“I like everything basically except pulling net, I don’t know how, and I can’t use fish pots yet either,” he added; however, he made it clear he intends to learn how to do these.

Similarly, he told us he will learn dive fishing using a scuba tank and will take his first diving lessons as soon as he turns 10. The beginner’s open water diving course will be his birthday present. JJ started to swim at a young age and practices free-diving at appropriate depths.

“I’ll get certified for scuba diving this year,” he told us. JJ is already aware of some scuba diving safety measures. “I know you can’t come up too fast,” he said.

CFMC UPDATES Adriel García, his maternal

fishing gear such as throw-

grandfather, and Fonsito,

nets, Hawaiian slings, and

another Cruzan fisherman,

harpoons.

have taught him to fish.

Darran, a fishing assistant, is

“My grandfather taught me to

also usually there when he

use the net Fonsito taught me

goes fishing. Gerson “Nicky”

to drive the boat, put the

Martínez, a fisherman on the

boat in its trailer, and get it

Outreach and Education

running. My grandfather and

Advisory Panel, often provides

Fonsito taught me to fish

advice and support. JJ

mahi,” JJ told us, who can be

frequently goes out to Altona

seen on the boat in the videos

Lagoon, Molasses Pier, and

published by JJ Fishing

Salt River with Fonsito and

Adventures across different

Darran. His family and nearby

social media. We must

friends have been

highlight that these activities

fundamental in the fishing

are performed by JJ as

learning process. His mother,

practice, near the shore and

Zolymar “Sol” García, his

under direct supervision of

godmother, a friend of his

friends and family. Once he

mother’s, a neighbor, and his

reaches the proper age, he

grandfather, among others,

will take all required

have provided all sorts of

navigation courses and obtain the corresponding licenses.

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Sol has been instrumental in JJ’s development as a fisherman, and has a hand in all the material published in his social media. She is the one taking him to fishing venues and manages JJ Fishing Adventure’s social media accounts. JJ greatly enjoys making videos with his mother and publishing the content. Sol is also highly vigilant of JJ’s safety on the water. They both use the Find My Phone app (which provides GPS coordinates) and JJ knows how to use 911 and has memorized the telephone numbers of the Coast Guard as well as other local fishermen who can lend a hand in an emergency.

Similarly, Sol ensures that JJ has a healthy balance between school and fishing. His favorite subject is Art, and he just finished the fourth grade, achieving excellent grades in the St. Mary’s Catholic School. JJ practices fishing almost daily, but he knows that studying is vitally important to his present and future. JJ is also aware of how important it is to protect the environment, and Sol supports him when they go out to clean up some coastal areas. JJ picks up the trash wherever he finds it.

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“My Mom bought me a bag to put my gear in and we went to the lagoon, to the mangroves, looking for fish and I said to myself: 'I wonder why there is so much trash there'. I went with my bag and gloves, and I picked up every single piece of can and trash I found, and I put it in my bag, and I got at least 20 pounds of garbage,” JJ told us.

“(I think we should) have trash cans where people mostly are, pick up after ourselves, and show them the consequences of littering. Like, what would happen to the sea life, and stuff like that. If we protect the environment, we will have more fish. We have to stop overfishing.

When you have a commercial fisherman license, only take what you need and what you can sell,” JJ said, about fishing and the environment.

CFMC UPDATES JJ doesn’t only fish – he also cleans, prepares, and cooks his harvest. At his tender age, he has his own kitchen equipment and cleaning and cooking area in the kitchen, set up by his mother.

Both his grandfather and his mother have taught him some cooking essentials, and he continues practicing by himself. In the videos posted online, you can see him scaling his catch, seasoning it, and preparing delicious side dishes like polenta and rice.

“It feels good to do it (preparing and cooking his catch) because I know how to do some stuff on my own. I caught a lobster and I cooked it for Mom, for Mother’s Day. I took a chef’s knife and I cut the tail, and I cut the tail through the middle. First, I detached (the tail) from the head and cut it to the middle. I put adobo. I took the meat and I put on the grill. And then, when it was on the grill, I took off the legs and put the bottom part on the grill. Then I put part of the antenna on the grill, it has a bit of meat. And I gave it to Mom with some rice and at the end I said, ‘Happy Mother’s Day!,’” JJ told us, assuring us that he also cooks whenever his mother is sick.

Sol confirmed that the lobster was absolutely delicious. She told us that although JJ cooks without measuring his ingredients or taste-testing while he cooks, everything he makes is delicious.

Sol also fishes recreationally and according to JJ, “she’s the luckiest when they go out fishing together.”

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JJ is very much aware of the benefits of producing his own food.

He has already started planting food crops, and will continue to do so throughout the summer with his mother’s help. He knows that if he plants and harvests food from the land and fishes responsibly, he will always have food for himself and his family.

“He wants to live off the land,” Sol told us.

We want to take this opportunity to invite you to like and follow JJ Fishing Adventures on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube! We know JJ will continue to grow into a successful fisherman who will serve as an inspiration to other people who enjoy and thrive on fishing!

The CFMC thanks Zolymar García and JJ for their availability for an interview through Zoom and the images provided. It has been a pleasure for the CFMC to talk with this friendly, respectful, and smart young fisher. We know that he will continue being successful.

CFMC UPDATES

MUTTON SNAPPER CLOSED SEASON! The mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis) fishing prohibition continues until June 30th, 2022, in the US Caribbean Economic Exclusive Zone and in USVI local waters. The mutton snapper fishing prohibition for the Puerto Rico local waters, ended in tMay 31st, 2022.

For more information, please visit Caribbean Fishery Management Council - Closed Seasons (caribbeanfmc.com)

Mutton snapper ( Lutjanus analis )

LOOK FOR US!

www.caribbeanfmc.com Illustrations by: Sea Grant PR