CFMC Updates (December 2023)

CFMC NOTICIAS DEL CFMC UPDATES

Octubre 2023 December 2023

el boletín del Consejo Administración Pesquera del Caribe (CFMC, inglés) InEnthe Caribbean Fishery de Management Council (CFMC)'s bulletin youen will find encontrarás anuncios actividades, sobre distintas especies marinas valiosa announcements, factsdeabout marinedatos species, and valuable information ony fishing información sobre la pesca y las regulaciones que rigen esta actividad en Puerto Rico y and rule that regulate this activity in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. en las Islas Vírgenes Estadounidenses.

NASSAU GROUPER

By Jannette Ramos García

Picture: Michelle T. Schärer Umpierre

Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus)

The Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) is a species that inhabits the tropical and subtropical waters of the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. Adult fish are generally light beige with five dark brown vertical bars and a black spot on the top of the tail, making it easy to recognize. Its diet varies as it grows and it sucks its prey with its protruding mouth. Adults only eat fish, while juveniles feed on a variety of fish and invertebrates such as shrimp and crabs.

“Being one of the largest carnivorous fish, it feeds on smaller fish in coral reefs, thus controlling the prey, preventing them from overpopulating fish that are harmful to the habitat,” explained Dr. Michelle T. Schärer Umpierre, expert on this species and member of the CFMC Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC).

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Nassau grouper can live about 29 years and begin reproducing when they are 17 to 20 inches long, which takes 4 to 5 years.

Groupers reproduce only in spawning aggregations. These aggregation events are crucial to the continuation of the species, but also make them vulnerable to overfishing as the areas where they return to reproduce are known.

spawning aggregations - When fish gather in large numbers, in specific locations to simultaneously spawn (release eggs and sperm) into the water column. Fertilization occurs in spawning clouds, and ocean currents disperse them.

“In the past, the largest Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) catches were done during the spawning aggregations. Due to fishing during aggregations and docile behavior of the Nassau grouper towards divers, so many were extracted that today they cannot be fished. Given the decline in Nassau grouper populations, this species has been declared threatened under federal law. Some fishers who were interviewed for a study about times and places of reproduction, confirmed that some aggregations of Nassau grouper have disappeared. This is why fishing for the Nassau grouper and the Goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) is prohibited all year round.” (GarcíaMoliner, Schärer Umpierre, Ortiz Sotomayor, in Fuete y Verguilla, “The importance of closed seasons,” Vol. 8 No. 3, August 2014.)

The importance of this species to local communities, along with the demand for its meat in national and international markets, caused a rapid decline in its population throughout the Caribbean region. Recognizing the need to recover the Nassau grouper, a permanent closure was implemented in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands (USVI) several decades ago. Nassau grouper cannot be caught or sold (all year-round), and if caught incidentally, it is mandatory to return it to the sea, preferably alive. Possession, capture and sale entail fines.

Picture: Adriana Toro Ramos

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Nassau grouper returned to the sea by Jannette Ramos.

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December 2023

The Nassau grouper is a symbol of the closure - designated period during which delicate balance within the Caribbean fishing for a specific species is prohibited marine ecosystems. Its conservation is not either by species, location or season. The main only crucial to maintaining the purpose is to give it a break to allow recovery, biodiversity and health of coral reefs, but reproduction or survival as necessary. also to sustaining the livelihoods of communities that depend on fishing. By implementing the closure permanently, which is compatible (equal) between all jurisdictions, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands have taken important steps to guarantee the survival of the grouper.

Recently, hopeful signs of an increase in adults have been observed in the aggregation of spawning in St. Thomas (double in 2023 compared to 2014) and the recruitment of juvenile Nassau groupers in places where they did not previously live in Puerto Rico. By continuing to prioritize sustainable fisheries management, fostering public awareness, and collaborating regionally, these actions contribute to the broader effort to preserve this culturally iconic species and the rich marine biodiversity of the Caribbean.

NOTE: If you see a Nassau grouper while you are diving or if you catch one incidentally, you should return it to the sea, alive, as soon as possible, and then report the sighting on the following website from your cell phone or computer: https://ee.kobotoolbox.org/x/oVyfKJIK. All the information provided will help demonstrate its recovery on our reefs and coasts.

IMPORTANT: Join the conservation of fish spawning aggregations on Big Fish Initiative social media platforms.

More information about the Nassau grouper? We recommend the following readings: “‘Cherneando’ por Puerto Rico” in Una mirada al mundo de los pescadores https://issuu.com/seagrantpr/docs/prsg-mirada-al-mundo-de-los-pescadores CFMC Updates (July 2022) - https://issuu.com/caribbeanfmc/docs/cfmc_updates_july_2022 Fuete y Verguilla, Vol. 8, Núm. 3 “La importancia de las vedas” https://issuu.com/seagrantpr/docs/prsg-fyv-vol8num3 Meros PR - https://es.merospr.com/groupers Nassau grouper, NOAA Fisheries - https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/nassau-grouper “Nassau Groupers against the Clock” Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=h_gtAuw6fiI&t=9s

Note: The CFMC appreciates the collaboration of Dr. Michelle T. Schärer Umpierre in reviewing this article.

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FISHERMAN OF THE MONTH EDGARDO AGOSTO PÉREZ

By Jannette Ramos García

Edgardo is a commercial fisherman born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico and a resident of Río Grande, PR. He is a graduate from the Interamerican University at Fajardo, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in biology.

He is a member of the El Tinglar Fishers’ Association, in Luquillo.

He tells us that for as long as he can remember, he has always loved the sea. At the age of thirteen (1992) his neighbor, Adalberto Meléndez García, introduced him to spearfishing and line fishing. This was the beginning of his love for fishing. He liked it so much he bought his first fishing spear, which he still keeps. Later, he decided to take formal diving classes along with another neighbor, Rafell Romero Medina, who always tagged along in his adventures and eventually became his diving partner.

With Adalberto, he learned about fishing closures, recognizing species, and most importantly, respecting marine life.

By 1999, Edgardo joined the university, but continued fishing recreationally. In 2007, he acquired his first boat and in 2010, he quit

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his job at a bank. In 2011, he began practicing freediving fishing along with other fishers who practice this discipline and

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are well-regarded for it: Alex Alvarado, José Luis Guzmán, and Frankie “Picúa” (fisher and distributor). During that same year, he also met biologist and fishery agent Jesús León. At that time, he didn’t have a license, which he admitted to Jesús after an abundant lobster haul. With Jesús helping him, Edgardo obtained his commercial fishing license. Now a formally licensed fisherman, Edgardo began fishing to pay off his student debt. Currently, he practices dive-fishing, trawling, and deepsea fishing.

During one of his fishing trips and while cutting up conch, he saw a huge hammerhead shark approaching. Edgardo told us how all kinds of scenarios went through his head.

However, he decided to remain calm, keeping a watchful eye on the shark until it left. He even completed his decompression stops.

This experience helped him look on this species with respect, instead of fear.

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The tasks included catching and measuring them, and taking out their otoliths and gonads, which were then sent to the Fisheries Research Laboratory. This research was aimed at determining the resource’s condition.

Through Dr. Schärer, Edgardo met Dr. Evan Tuohy (Co-founder of Isla Mar Research Expeditions). Dr. Schärer recommended Edgardo for work on Nassau grouper populations research.

Consequently, Dr. Tuohy trained him and they began counting juvenile groupers in Puerto Rican waters.

Eventually, his profession as a biologist opened doors for him, and his engagement with fishery resources management and marine ecosystem conservation led him to meet several scientists with whom he has collaborated. His first scientific work was with HJR Reefscaping, along with Dr. Héctor L. Ruiz. Edwin “Paúco” Font, deep-sea snapper fisherman from Rincón, led him to this experience.

Paúco introduced Edgardo to Dr. Michelle Schärer (also a team member of HJR Reefscaping) and Edgardo joined her in researching deep-water snappers.

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“We have to preserve them, because there are not too many left,” says Edgardo, who has identified some large groupers, but in small quantities.

This scientific formation has allowed him to see firsthand how deteriorated marine ecosystems are becoming. He has seen unprecedented levels of pollution and feels how the water has grown warmer than usual. Furthermore, he worries about red algal blooms which choke coral reefs and become tangles with the lines and traps. Most recently, Edgardo has observed how coral bleaching has accelerated at an exponential rate.

“We have to take care of what we have now, for the future,” Edgardo affirms, while also expressing doubts about the present state of marine resources.

Similarly, he understands that part of the excitement of going out to sea isn’t just

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related to the catch, but also to all the wonderful surprises nature has in store.

“Even when you don’t catch anything, God sends you something to appreciate.

Sometimes there are lots of beautiful experiences, like seeing other animals under federal protection like Nassau groupers, dolphins, whales… it’s a different environment, another world in which you disconnect from what’s going on,” Edgardo shared with us.

Edgardo wants to pass on his knowledge to new fishers generations. He advises them to not keep small catches, to know and understand local, state, and federal laws, and above all, learn to recognize species so they know which species they can catch, and which ones are protected.

“A successful fisher is one who takes care of the sea, protects the fishing areas and avoids overfishing,” Edgardo mentioned.

Note: CFMC would like to thank Edgardo Agosto Pérez and Jannette Ramos García for sharing their conversation with us. The pictures were taken by Jonathan Treacy and provided by Edgardo Agosto Pérez.

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December 2023

JoinBig Fish

Initiative!

Are you following the Big Fish Initiative on social media?

Join the efforts to protect fish spawning (reproduction) aggregations in the Wider Caribbean. Protecting these aggregations is taking care of the fishing of tomorrow.

Find Big Fish Initiative on social media: Big Fish Initiative bigfishinitiative Big Fish Initiative

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Thank You! Thanks to the entire fishing community and, in general, to all people interested in marine resources and fishing for following us in the CFMC newsletter and social media throughout 2023. We wish you Happy Holidays and Good Fishing in 2024! Stay tuned to our social media for more updates!

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