Newsletter No. 1

Caribbean Fishery Management Council’s
Newsletter
Volume 1
October 2012
The 143rd Regular Council Meeting was convened in Fajardo, Puerto Rico at the Conquistador Hotel on August
28-29, 2012. The most important issues discussed during these two days are summarized below. Documents
from the 143rd CFMC Meeting are available in the Council’s website: www.caribbeanfmc.com
Inside This Issue:
144th CFMC Regular
Meeting
December 19-20, 2012
◉ Last Public Hearing and
Scoping Meeting Report
◉ Latest on ACLs landings and
values and more...
For more details see page 8
37th CHOW and Fish Fry 2012
The Caribbean Fishery Management Council (CFMC) participated
for the third time, with other Regional Fishery Management Councils,
(RFMC) at the 37th Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW).
Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Samuel Rauch and Diana Martinó
The event was coordinated by the National Marine Sanctuary
Foundation (NMFS: http://www.nmsfocean.org/). The Western
Pacific, Mid-Atlantic and Caribbean Councils were, among others,
the sponsors of CHOW 2012. The Western Pacific and Caribbean
RFMCs also had kiosks at the Fish Fry, where different sea food
sample plates from all corners of the nation were presented to the guests.
Some of the high level officials that visited the CFMC kiosk
were Senator Daniel A. Akaka, Dr. Jane Lubchenco (Under
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA
Administrator), and Samuel Rauch (Assistant Administrator for
Fisheries).
The Fish Fry CFMC kiosk
was handled by Diana
Martino, Council's staff
Fish Fry 2012 Activity
member, Chef Juan
Carlos Vicéns, a well known Chef from Puerto
Rico, and Sous Chefs Maria Melissa Velez and Noel Vargas.
Maria Melissa Velez, Noel Vargas and Juan Carlos Vicens
Caribbean Fishery Management Council | 270 Muñoz Rivera Avenue 4th Floor Suite 401 San Juan Puerto Rico, 00918
( (787) 766-5926 FAX: (787) 766-6239 | www.caribbeanfmc.com
Multi-Year Grant FNA10NMF4410010
Cfmc Newsletter
Caribbean Fishery Management
Council Members
Advisory Panel (AP) Members
Puerto Rico:
St. Croix:
Marcos Hanke
Edward Schuster - Chair
Carlos Farchette (USVI) - Chair
Jesse Rivera
Thomas Daley
Eugenio Piñeiro (PR) - Vice-Chair
Greg Enstrong
Gerson Martínez
Nelson R. Crespo (PR)
Gary Wayne Rogers
Jens P. Skov
Winston Ledee (USVI)
Carlos Velazquez
Patricia Skov
St. Thomas:
At Large:
Voting Members:
Roy E. Crabtree - NMFS/SERO
Alicia V. Barnes - Commissioner DPNR, USVI
Daniel J. Galán Kercadó - Secretary DNER, PR
Non-voting Members representatives from:
William D. Baumgartner - U.S. Coast Guard
Edwin Muñiz - U.S. Department of State
Randy Robinson - U.S. Department of Interior
Scientific and Statistical
Committee (SSC) Members
Barbara L. Kojis - Chair
Jorge R. García-Sais
Richard Appeldoorn
Todd Gedamke
Mike Sissenwine
Jim Berkson
Louis A. Blanchard
Virdin Brown
Gregory Ledee
Julian Magras
Daryl Bryan
Outreach and Education Advisory Panel
Alida Ortiz - Chair
Benito Pinto
Cristina Olán Martínez
Astrid Green
Jannette Ramos García
William C. Coles
Andrés Maldonado Rivera
Council Staff
Miguel Rolón - Executive Director
Diana T. Martinó - Assistant to the Executive Director
and Outreach and Education Coordinator
Graciela García-Moliner - FMP and Habitat Specialist
María de los A. Irizarry - Fiscal Officer
Miguel del Pozo
Vivian Ruiz - Accounting Technician
Vance P. Vicente
Livia M. Montalvo - Office Automation Clerk
Walter Keithly
Iris N. Oliveras - Secretary
María M. Pastrana - Secretary
Natalia Perdomo - Intern
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Caribbean Fishery Management Council | 270 Muñoz Rivera Avenue 4th Floor Suite 401 San Juan Puerto Rico, 00918
( (787) 766-5926 FAX: (787) 766-6239 | www.caribbeanfmc.com
Cfmc Newsletter
Highlights from the 143rd Regular Council Meeting
T
he 143rd CFMC meeting was held on August 28-29,
2012 at El Conquistador hotel, in Fajardo, Puerto Rico.
At the beginning of the meeting, new Council member
Eugenio Piñeiro and re-appointed member Carlos
Farchette were sworn in by the Regional administrator
Roy Crabtree. The CFMC elected the Chair and ViceChair officials. They are Carlos Farchette as Chair and
Eugenio Piñeiro as Vice-Chair.
The Council's Outreach and Education representatives
informed about the visit to the Naguabo Fishermen
Association to provide information regarding the new
proposed regulations for the establishing of ACLs, as
well as information regarding Council processes. After
this effort, a significant group of fishermen atended
and actively participated at the CFMC meeting.
Regional Administrator, Roy Crabtree swearing in new
Council member Eugenio Piñeiro and re-appointed
member Carlos Farchette.
On other issues, Carlos Farchette reported that USVI
approved the transfering of fishing licenses among
fishermen, thanks to efforts and communications with
the USVI legislature. This will be important for the trap
reduction program.
The Council recognized Todd Gedamke (SERSC),
Bill Arnold (SERO), Roy Crabtree (R.A./SERO) and
Graciela García-Moliner (Council Staff), for their
contributions to the advancement of the Council’s
goals and objectives in the effective management of
the fisheries in Puerto Rico and the U S Virgin Islands.
Fishermen guests from Fajardo, Naguabo and Loiza.
Council's recognition to Todd Gedamke, Bill Arnold, Roy Crabtree and Graciela García-Moliner respectively.
Caribbean Fishery Management Council | 270 Muñoz Rivera Avenue 4th Floor Suite 401 San Juan Puerto Rico, 00918
( (787) 766-5926 FAX: (787) 766-6239 | www.caribbeanfmc.com
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Cfmc Newsletter
Public Hearing Issues
A public hearing is one of the consultation strategies required by the Federal Government and used
by the Council to request final stakeholder’s recommendations on specific issues discussed by the
Council. The recommendations, are incorporated in the documents to be evaluated by the Council for
management decisions.
During the month of July 2012, public hearings
were held in Puerto Rico (Naguabo, San Juan
and Ponce), St. Thomas and St. Croix to discuss
issues concerning seagrasses and size limits
for the parrotfish. The public hearings were
in response to the April 2012 142nd CFMC
Regular meeting recommendations. (visit www.
caribbeanfmc.com).
On the issue of seagrasses, most participants
agreed on the alternative of removing
seagrasses from the Fishery Management Plan
(FMP). It was agreed that a final action on this
issue will take place at the December meeting.
Photo by Benito Pinto
Regarding size limits for parrotfishes, participants
in St Croix recommended a minimum size of 8
inches for the redband parrotfish and 9 inches
for all other species, for both the commercial
and recreational fishermen. In Puerto Rico,
the fishers recommended no size limit for
the commercial sector and 12 inches for the
recreational.
Photo by Dr. Dwayne Meadows, NOAA/NMFS/OPR
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Caribbean Fishery Management Council | 270 Muñoz Rivera Avenue 4th Floor Suite 401 San Juan Puerto Rico, 00918
( (787) 766-5926 FAX: (787) 766-6239 | www.caribbeanfmc.com
Cfmc Newsletter
Scoping Meeting Issues
The Council convenes scoping meetings as the first initiative to collect information from the public
on an issue. It helps to assess the status of knowledge, identify needs for further information, and the
public opinions on the issue at hand. The information collected will be used to enrich the different
documents that support management decisions.
Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) by areas were
also discussed at the 142nd CFMC Meeting
(visit www.caribbeanfmc.com).
The White Paper on FMPs by Areas presented
a US Caribbean island-Specific Fisheries
Management strategy. In other words,
reorganize FMPs around islands applying a
geographical approach rather than a species
approach. The alternatives presented were
as follows:
•Four islands: Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St.
Thomas, St. John
•Three islands: Puerto Rico, St.Croix, St
Thomas/ St. John
•Two islands: Puerto Rico Bank (P.R./St.
Thomas.St. John) and St. Croix.
The scoping meeting, conducted in July
2012, requested comments on the issue
of developing island specific fisheries
management for the U.S Caribbean. Most
attendees selected the alternative of three
islands approach: Puerto Rico, St. Thomas/
St. John and St. Croix.
The Council, in the 143rd CFMC Regular
Meeting, voted and accepted this alternative.
Since this decision implies significant
changes to the FMPs, Miguel Rolón, the Executive
Director, recommended the development of an
outline on this issue to be discussed at the CFMC
December meeting.
Illustration taken from Graciela García-Moliner's 143rd CFMC
meeting presentation.
The red square shows a representation of the entire EEZ.
Caribbean Fishery Management Council | 270 Muñoz Rivera Avenue 4th Floor Suite 401 San Juan Puerto Rico, 00918
( (787) 766-5926 FAX: (787) 766-6239 | www.caribbeanfmc.com
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Cfmc Newsletter
News, Iniciatives and Recommendations from the Outreach and Education Advisory Panel
• All materials will be produced in English and Spanish.
• CFMC brochure. This document will provide
updated information about the Council's purpose
and process.
• Newsletter. Will be published quarterly with the
purpose of providing information to the fishers and
the general public and promote their participation in
the Council process.
• Factsheets. Will provide specific information on
managed species and management measures (9-12
issues).
• 2013 Caribbean Fisheries Calendar. A year
calendar that will include USVI and PR's fishing
closed seasons. The Sea Grant College Program,
Uniersity of Puerto Rico, is a partener in this effort.
• Special Issue of Fuete y Verguilla. Will be dedicated to USVI fisheries, in coordination with Sea
Grant, the CFMC will help fund and coordinate this
project.
• Webpage. The CFMC webpage is currently in the
process of being remade and modernized.
• School/Teaching resources. Development of The
Caribbean Sea Fisheries, consisting of resource
books for secondary school teachers, a comic book
on Caribbean Sea fisheries and a short video (15
mins.) on managed species, essential fish habitats
and fisheries management strategies.
• Workshops. Directed to legislators, government
officials and law enforcement agents to help them
have a better understanding of the fisheries resources
and a cohesive discourse of the management issues
that impact the fisheries and the general public.
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• Outreach meetings. Revise the present format of
public meetings convened by the CFMC to make
them more effective in the communication process.
• Community activities. Support community
activities, such as, coastal festivals, fishing competitions, etc., that offers the opportunity of conveying
Council’s goals, objectives and expectations to the
general public.
• Posters. Review existing posters and evaluate
them as a tool for Outreach and Education.
• Scientific Monographs on Caribbean Fisheries.
There is a need that research information generated
for Fishery Management Plans and other documents,
be translated and interpreted to enhance citizen’s
literacy on fisheries concepts and issues.
• Internships. CFMC should work with selected
fisheries laboratories in the US to attract upper
undergraduate and graduate students from PR and
USVI to pursue research, training and education in
fisheries related fields.
• Mass media. Conduct a survey to asses the
extent and potential impact of radio, TV, educational
films and periodical columns in general distribution
newspapers in Puerto Rico, St. Thomas/St. John
and St. Croix, in promoting citizens’ awareness and
literacy in fisheries issues.
• Fisheries field agents. 2-3 fishery advisory field
agents to facilitate communication with the Council
in Puerto Rico and the USVI.
The Council created a working group which
members are: Roy Pemberton, Miguel García, Carlos
Farchette, CFMC Staff and Alida Ortiz (OEAP Chair).
This group will go over the Outreach and Education
proposals, included in the Plan, to make specific
recommendations to the Council.
Caribbean Fishery Management Council | 270 Muñoz Rivera Avenue 4th Floor Suite 401 San Juan Puerto Rico, 00918
( (787) 766-5926 FAX: (787) 766-6239 | www.caribbeanfmc.com
Cfmc Newsletter
Update on Annual Catch Limits
(ACL) Landings and Values
Council members Roy Crabtree and Bill Arnold
presented an update on Annual Catch Limits (ACLs)
landings and values. There was ample discussion
among Council members and some of the members
of the public on the unreliability of the statistics,
and on the different species caught, used for ACL
and Accountability Measures (MS) within the U.S.
Caribbean jurisdiction. Even though the data used
for these parameters apply only to the EEZ, the local
waters are affected as well. Concerns were raised
about the recreational fisheries data, the need for
port samplers/fisheries agents in the field, the quality
of the data collected and the timelines of getting
the data to the SSC and NMFS/SERO officials that
produce the analysis for the ACL of managed species
within the EEZ. There is great need for outreach
and education to the fishermen communities on the
important recognition that the Law requires ACL and
accountability measures, and the need of reliable
reporting of fisheries statistics due to the impact on
management measures these may have.
The Executive Director recommended the formation
of a working group of people with specific data
to meet with SSC before the Council meeting in
December to discuss the data available and make
recommendations to the Council.
SSC 5-year Research Plan
Dr. Barbara Kojis, SSC Chairperson, presented the
first draft of the five-year reseach priorities. It will be
completed with Council’s recommendations to be
presented at the December meeting.The following
are considered as research priorities:
a. Stock status
b. Assessment of the impacts of current federal management regulations
c. Ecosystem based research: watershed approach large spatial and temporal scale studies
d. Fishing associated human communities
e. New and alternative sampling techniques
Others Issues Discussed
There were other issues discussed in the 143rd CFMC
Regular Meeting such as:
a. The trap reduction project, presently conducted in
St. Croix has the objective of managing the number
of fish traps in the area. Traps will be tagged and the
fishers will have licenses for traps. Before hurricane
Hugo there were 4,000 traps, now there are about 400.
They are proposing a St. Croix Fish Trap Program with a
maximum of 150 traps/person. The Council approved
the extension of the project to fiscal year 2013.
b. Dr. David Olsen reported on the status of the yellowtail project in St. Thomas. They have tagged fishes and
use a scanner to detect the tagged
fish that have
been caught to
study mortality,
growth rate and
population size.
Up to this moment there have not
been recapture of
the tagged fish. Better outreach strategies were suggested
to see if more tags
photos curtesy of David Olsen
are recovered.
The Council approved to fund two proposals:
"Nassau Grouper Epinephelus striatus Fish Spanning
Aggregation Research" and "Tagging Project of
Spiny Lobster to Obtain Better Growth Parameter for
Assessment" subject to cuncurrence of the selection
process by the Grants Office.
Caribbean Fishery Management Council | 270 Muñoz Rivera Avenue 4th Floor Suite 401 San Juan Puerto Rico, 00918
( (787) 766-5926 FAX: (787) 766-6239 | www.caribbeanfmc.com
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Cfmc Newsletter
Frequently Used Acronyms
Upcoming Events & Announcements
ACL - Annual Catch Limit
◉ The 144th CFMC Regular Meeting will be held
in St. Thomas, USVI on December 19-20, 2012, at
the Marriott Freshman's Reef.
AM - Accountability Measure
CFMC - Caribbean Fishery Management Council
◉ The SSC Meeting will be held in San Juan,
Puerto Rico on October 30 - November 1, 2012, at
the Verdanza Hotel.
EEZ - Exclusive Economic Zone
EFH - Essential Fish Habitat
ESA - Endangered Species Act
◉ The Outreach and Education Panel will meet in
San Juan, Puerto Rico on October 30, 2012, at the
Verdanza Hotel.
FAC - Fisheries Advisory Committee
FMP - Fishery Management Plans
HMS - Highly Migratory Species
NMFS - National Marine Fisheries Service
NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
PR - Puerto Rico
PRDNER - Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
SEFSC - NMFS / Southeast Fishery Science Center
SERO - NMFS / Southeast Regional Office
SSC - Scientific and Statistical Committee
STFA - St. Thomas Fishermen’s Association
STJ - St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
STT - St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
STX - St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
USVI - United States Virgin Islands
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Credits
Alida Ortiz - Editor
Miguel Rolón - Editor
Natalia Perdomo - Designer
And a special thanks to the Council staff members
who helped with the review of the newsletter.
Editor’s Note
The Caribbean Newsletter is published by The Caribbean Fishery
Management Council. Its purpose is to report developments in fisheries management that would be of interest to its readers. Please credit
the council when reprinting articles used in this newsletter. Anyone
wishing to submit information or articles pertaining to fishing or fisheries management, or letters to the editor on a pertinet issue, is invited
and encouraged to do so. These may be mailed to Natalia Perdomo,
Caribbean Newsletter, 268 Muñoz Rivera Avenue Suite 1108 San Juan
Puerto Rico, 00918, or may be sent via internet to this email address
nataliaperdomo_cfmc@yahoo.com.
Caribbean Fishery Management Council | 270 Muñoz Rivera Avenue 4th Floor Suite 401 San Juan Puerto Rico, 00918
( (787) 766-5926 FAX: (787) 766-6239 | www.caribbeanfmc.com