CFMC Updates (June 2023)

CFMC UPDATES

June 2023

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.

This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This act was signed on December 28, 1973, and:

establishes protections for fish, wildlife, and plant species listed as threatened or endangered; provides for adding species to and removing them from the list of threatened and endangered species, and for preparing and implementing plans for their recovery

provides for interagency cooperation to avoid take of listed species and for issuing permits for otherwise prohibited activities provides for cooperation with States, including authorization of financial assistance; implements the provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)

Under the ESA, NOAA Fisheries is responsible for the protection, conservation, and recovery of over 160 marine and anadromous (born in freshwater, live part of their lives in the sea and return to rivers to spawn) species that are endangered or threatened.

The Island Based Fishery Management Plans (IBFMP) feature several species listed under ESA, including the following:

Fish (reef and pelagic fishes and rays):

Giant manta ray/ Mantarraya (Manta birostris)Only in Puerto Rico’s IBMFP Stony corals

Nassau grouper/ Mero cherna (Epinephelus striatus)

Staghorn coral/ Coral cuerno de ciervo (Acropora cervicornis)

Elkhorn coral/ Coral cuerno de alce (Acropora palmata)

Stony corals

Consulted sources:

NOAA Fisheries, USFWS, CFMC

Corals and manta ray images:

NOAA NOAA Fisheries

Nassau grouper image: Photo shows juvenile specimen. Photo courtesy of Pichón Duarte, Burracas Films.

Note: We would like to thank Dr. Graciela García-Moliner, Fishery and Habitat Management Plan Specialist, and Liajay Rivera García, Technical Assistant for Fishery Management Plans and Ecosystem Based Fishery Management, for their scientific advisory for this article.

Mountainous star coral/ Coral estrella laminar (Orbicella faveolata)

Boulder star coral/ Coral estrella masivo (Orbicella franksi)

Rough cactus coral / Coral cactus áspero (Mycetophillia ferox)

Lobed Star coral/ Coral estrella lobulado (Orbicella annularis)

Pillar coral/ Coral de pilar (Dendrogyra cylindrus)

MICHAEL FUNK FISHER OF THE MONTH

Michael Funk is a recreational fisherman based in St. Croix, USVI, with a vast experience in fishing. He began fishing with his father at the tender age of 8.

Currently, he enjoys fishing for lionfish and uses the pole spear, as he considers it the most efficient tool for catching this species. Michael sees fishing as a source of both recreation, and nutrition

He is the treasurer for the Caribbean Oceanic Restoration and Education Foundation (CORE) Furthermore, he has participated in research projects through the University of the Virgin Islands regarding topics such as lionfish migration and

ciguatoxin concentrations. He serves in the CFMC St. Croix District Advisory Panel and the St. Croix Fishery Advisory Committee

"There needs to be a balance between fishers’ ability to maintain their livelihood and the demand on the marine life population,” expressed Michael, about fisherfolk participation in public policy and decision-making processes.

As with many others, Michael has concerns about the changes he has observed within the last few years in both the climate and the ocean.

“Warmer waters cause coral bleaching that can kill coral, which is the breeding grounds for many commercially important fish. Sediment runoff, poor coastal management, and trash are also negatively affecting the coral,” he pointed out.

Michael understands that a good fisher is one who is “environmentally aware” Sadly, he doesn’t quite see a bright future for fishing, and he holds responsible for this the “dwindling resources due to over population and demand for more seafood, as well as poor coastal management.”

Michael collaborated with the preparation of the cookbook published by CFMC. He shared with us his recipe for lionfish ceviche, and a recipe for lionfish soup. To see these recipes, go to the cookbook at https://issuu com/caribbeanfmc/docs/libro de recetas and go to pages 29 and 30

Note: The CFMC thanks Carlos Farchette for the interview with Michael Funk and the provided photo

QUEEN CONCH

UNDER SEASONAL CLOSURE IN FEDERAL WATERS EAST OF ST. CROIX!

The seasonal closure for the fishing or possession of queen conch in federal waters east of St. Croix, USVI, began on June 1 and ends on October 31st. This seasonal closure protects the conch during its reproduction, when the species is most vulnerable to pressure from overfishing.

The closure applies in federal waters east of 64o34’ longitude west in St. Croix, including the Lang Bank area, which falls within these waters (consult the map below).

Federal waters

Linerepresents3nauticalmiles

Closed Jun 1 – Oct 31

Linerepresents fathoms

Nautical miles

REMEMBER THAT CONCH FISHING IS UNDER YEAR-ROUND CLOSURE IN ALL OTHER FEDERAL WATERS.