UPDATES CFMC
November 2024
In the Caribbean Fishery Management Council (CFMC)'s bulletin you will find announcements, facts about marine species, and valuable information on fishing rules and regulations for Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
NEW PROJECTS FUNDED NEW PROJECTS FUNDED
UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA)
BY: DR. MARTHA C. PRADA
NOAA Fisheries is partnering with the eight Regional Fishery Management Councils, including the Caribbean Fishery Management Council (CFMC), in planning and implementing the U.S. Federal government Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), ClimateReady initiative As such, the program will tackle several critical areas focused on the impacts of climate to confront climatechange impacts using sciencebased management and pursuing conservation and sustainabe use of the nation’s marine resources
The funding will strengthen the CFMC efforts to better integrate scientific tools to prepare for and respond to climate change and develop management measures or processes to better understand climate change impacts and climate resiliency. As such, through this IRA initiative, the US Caribbean community can anticipate significant improvements in fishery management and governance
First workshop of the project focused on developing climate scenarios for red hind and Caribbean spiny lobster Photo provided by: Martha C Prada
The CFMC has been awarded with the following projects:
1 Understanding Climate Change and its Impact on the Fishery Ecosystem and the Fisher’s Community in the U.S. Caribbean to advance outreach and education for fishers and the fishing communities enriching their ecological knowledge on the marine fisheries ecosystem and stimulate their participation in the CFMC management initiatives
2. Summarizing the current life history status of priority Council-managed Caribbean species and evaluating their vulnerability to climate change by integrating up-to-date scientific and traditional information, working in close collaboration with the NOAA Southeast Regional branch (SERO) as well as the NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC).
3 Implementing a Climate Smart Approach to Ensure Sustainable Red Hind and Lobster Fishing and develop climate scenarios planning for red hind (Epinephelus guttatus) and Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) in Puerto Rico, St. Thomas-St. John, and St. Croix based on broad and participative consultation, analysis and determination strategies
4. Assess the Ecological Needs of Two Species under Recovery Plans: Queen conch (Aliger gigas) and Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) to identify climate change impacts on the critical habitat of species that are highly valued, traditionally fished, and are under endangered species recovery or CFMC rebuilding plans.
5 Understanding the impacts of climate change and fishing pressure on the dolphinfish (Corpyhaena hippurus) in the U.S. Caribbean to help us better appreciate changes in the species' spatial distribution patterns across the Caribbean (100’s km), considering variables that could be natural or human in nature
Dolphinfish Research Program is setting out to deploy 30 satellite tags on subadult and adult dolphinfish between Puerto Rico (10), the United States Virgin Islands (10), and the Mid-Atlantic Bight (10) to better understand how the species moves within and to the U.S. Caribbean Sea. Crédito: JP Zegarra
Goliath grouper / mero batata / Epinephelus itajara Nassau grouper / mero cherna / Epinephelus striatus
