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.
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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
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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.
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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