Amendment3tothe PuertoRico,St.Croix,and St.Thomas/St.John
FisheryManagementPlans: NewManagementMeasuresfor DolphinandWahoo
SarahStephenson,NMFSSoutheastRegionalOffice
184thCaribbeanFisheryManagementCouncilMeeting
April23-24,2024
ActionsinAmendment3
• Establishaminimumsizelimitfor dolphin infederalwatersaroundPuerto Rico,St.Croix,andSt.Thomas/St.John.
• Establishaminimumsizelimitfor wahoo infederalwatersaroundPuertoRico, St.Croix,andSt.Thomas/St.John.
• Establisharecreationalbaglimitfor dolphin infederalwatersaroundPuerto Rico,St.Croix,andSt.Thomas/St.John.
• Establisharecreationalbagfor wahoo infederalwatersaroundPuertoRico,St. Croix,andSt.Thomas/St.John.
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service Page 2
PurposeandNeedStatements
• ThepurposeofAmendment3istoestablishsizelimitsandrecreationalbag limitsfordolphinandwahoounderthePuertoRicoFisheryManagement Plan,theSt.CroixFisheryManagementPlan,andtheSt.Thomas/St.John FisheryManagementPlan.
• TheneedforAmendment3istodevelopconservationandmanagement measuresfordolphinandwahootoensureundersizedindividualshave adequatetimetomatureandreproduceandtotakeaprecautionary approachtomanagementtoprotectagainstoverfishingforresourceswith limitedmanagementstructure.
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service Page 3
SummaryofPreferredAlternatives
Management Measure
Dolphinminimum sizelimit
Wahoominimum sizelimit
Dolphin recreationalbag limit
Wahoo recreationalbag limit
Puerto Rico St. Croix St. Thomas/St. John
Alternative 3 -Establisha24”forklengthminimumsizelimitforthecommercial andrecreationalharvestofdolphininfederalwaters
Alternative 2
-Establisha32”forklengthminimumsizelimitforthecommercial andrecreationalharvestofwahooinfederalwaters
Alternative 3 -Establishabag limitinfederalwatersof5 dolphin/person/day,notto exceed15dolphin/vessel/day, whicheverisless.
Alternative 2 -Establishabag limitinfederalwatersof5 wahoo/person/day,nottoexceed 10wahoo/vessel/day,whichever isless.
Alternative 2 -Establishabaglimitinfederal watersof10dolphin/person/day,nottoexceed 32dolphin/vessel/day,whicheverisless.
Alternative 3 -Establishabaglimitinfederal watersof2wahoo/person/day,nottoexceed10 wahoo/vessel/day,whicheverisless.
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service Page 4
DolphinMinimumSizeLimitAlternatives*
Alternative Biological Effects
Alt.1–Nosizelimit
Alt.2–20”forklength
minimum
Allsizescouldbe removedfrom population
Juvenilefishprotected; halfthefemaleshave timetoreproduce; somediscardsexpected
Socio-Economic Effects Administrative Effects
Alt. 3 - 24” fork length
minimum
Juvenilefishprotected; allfemaleshavetimeto reproduce;more discardsexpected
Commercialand recreationalfisherscan continuetofishasusual
Short-termcostsdueto restrictedfishing;longtermbenefitsthrua moresustainable population
Short-termcostswould begreaterbecauseofthe more-restrictive size limit
Noneweffects
Requireregulations; addedtime/laborfor enforcementofficials andforoutreach& education
SameasAlt.2
*Appliestoallthreemanagementareas: PuertoRico,St.Croix,andSt.Thomas/St.John
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service Page 5
WahooMinimumSizeLimitAlternatives*
Alternative Biological Effects
Socio-Economic Effects Administrative Effects
Alt.1–Nosizelimit
Alt. 2 – 32” fork length
minimum
Allsizescouldbe removedfrom population
Juvenilefishprotected; 1/4th thefemaleshave timetoreproduce; somediscardsexpected
Commercialand recreationalfisherscan continuetofishasusual
Short-termcostsdueto restrictedfishing;longtermbenefitsthruamore sustainablepopulation
Noneweffects
Alt.3-40”forklength
minimum
Juvenilefishprotected; allfemaleshavetimeto reproduce;more discardsexpected
Short-termcostswouldbe greaterbecauseofthe more-restrictive sizelimit
Requireregulations; addedtime/laborfor enforcementofficials andforoutreach& education
SameasAlt.2
*Appliestoallthreemanagementareas: PuertoRico,St.Croix,andSt.Thomas/St.John
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service Page 6
DolphinRecreationalBagLimitAlternatives–
PuertoRico
Alternative Biological Effects
Socio-Economic Effects
Administrative Effects
Alt.1-Nobag limit
Alt.2–10/30
Allfishcaughtcould bekept
Fewernumberoffish removedfrom population;mayhave somediscards
Recreationalfisherscan continuetofishasusual
Somereductioninharvest expected:short-termcosts, butlong-termbenefitsthru amoresustainable population
Noneweffects
Alt. 3 – 5/15
Fewestnumberoffish removedfrom population;mayhave morediscards
Greaterreductioninharvest expected:short-termcosts, butlong-termbenefitsthru amoresustainable population
Requireregulations;added time/laborforenforcement officialsandforoutreach& education
CompatiblewithcurrentDNER baglimit
Requireregulations;added time/laborforenforcement officialsandforoutreach& education;needonthewater enforcementtocheckcompliance
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service Page 7
DolphinRecreationalBagLimitAlternatives–
St.CroixandSt.Thomas/St.John
Alternative Biological Effects
Alt.1-Nobag limit
Allfishcaughtcould bekept
Alt. 2 – 10/32 Fewernumberoffish removedfrom population;mayhave somediscards
Socio-Economic Effects
Administrative Effects
Alt.3–5/15
Fewestnumberoffish removedfrom population;mayhave morediscards
Recreationalfisherscan continuetofishasusual
Somereductioninharvest expected:short-termcosts, butlong-termbenefitsthru amoresustainable population
Greaterreductioninharvest expected:short-termcosts, butlong-termbenefitsthru amoresustainable population
Noneweffects
Requireregulations;added time/laborforenforcement officialsandforoutreach& education
CompatiblewithDPNRbaglimit*
Requireregulations;added time/laborforenforcement officialsandforoutreach& education;needonthewater enforcementtocheckcompliance
*TheDPNRregulationswerenotimplementedatthetimethisamendmentwasprepared.
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service Page 8
WahooRecreationalBagLimitAlternatives–
PuertoRico
Alternative Biological Effects
Socio-Economic Effects Administrative Effects
Alt.1-Nobag limit
Alt. 2 – 5/10
Allfishcaughtcould bekept
Fewernumberoffish removedfrom population;mayhave somediscards
Recreationalfisherscan continuetofishasusual
Somereductioninharvest expected:short-termcosts, butlong-termbenefitsthru amoresustainable population
Noneweffects
Alt.3–2/6
Fewestnumberoffish removedfrom population;mayhave morediscards
Greaterreductioninharvest expected:short-termcosts, butlong-termbenefitsthru amoresustainable population
Requireregulations;added time/laborforenforcement officialsandforoutreach& education
CompatiblewithcurrentDNER baglimit
Requireregulations;added time/laborforenforcement officialsandforoutreach& education;needonthewater enforcementtocheckcompliance
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service Page 9
WahooRecreationalBagLimitAlternatives–St.
CroixandSt.Thomas/St.John
Alternative Biological Effects
Alt.1-Nobag limit
Allfishcaughtcould bekept
Alt.2–4/20 Fewernumberoffish removedfrom population;mayhave somediscards
Socio-Economic Effects Administrative Effects
Alt. 3 – 2/10 Fewestnumberoffish removedfrom population;mayhave morediscards
Recreationalfisherscan continuetofishasusual
Somereductioninharvest expected:short-termcosts, butlong-termbenefitsthru amoresustainable population
Greaterreductioninharvest expected:short-termcosts, butlong-termbenefitsthru amoresustainable population
Noneweffects
Requireregulations;added time/laborforenforcement officialsandforoutreach& education
CompatiblewithDPNRbaglimit*
Requireregulations;added time/laborforenforcement officialsandforoutreach& education;needonthewater enforcementtocheckcompliance
*TheDPNRregulationswerenotimplementedatthetimethisamendmentwasprepared.
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service Page 10
CombinedeffectsofAmendment3
Commercial Fishers Recreational Fishers
Wouldneedtocomplywith minimumsizelimitforany dolphinorwahoocaughtin federalwaters. Thisincludes fisherswhotargetotherspecies (e.g.,HMS)andland dolphin/wahooasbycatch.
Wouldneedtocomplywith minimumsizelimit and daily baglimitforanydolphinor wahoocaughtinfederalwaters.
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service Page 11
ActionItemsandNextSteps
• Councilreviewsfinaldraftamendmentanddraftcodifiedtext
April 2024
• CouncilapprovesAmendment3forsubmissiontoSecretary ofCommerce(allowingstafftomakeeditorialedits)
May 2024
• StaffmakeeditorialeditsandsendstoCouncilChairfor review
• CouncilsubmitsamendmenttoSecretaryofCommerce
June-July 2024
• NMFSbeginsrulemakingprocess
• Requestforpubliccommentsontheamendmentandthe proposedrule
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service Page 12
ThankYou