Bajo de Sico Public Hearing Summary

Caribbean Fishery Management Council131st Council Meeting

June 23-24, 2009Carambola Resort

St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

Location and Dates of Public Hearings

April 22, 2009, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

April 23, 2009, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin IslandsApril 27, 2009: Mayagüez, Puerto Rico

Number of AttendeesN Alternative

favoredPer cent Deponent

s

Mayagüez

68*467*

Action 1, 2dAction 1, 1Action 2, 3

94%6%94%

18 (+2 written) of 50 present

S. Thomas

1 Action 1, 2d

1

St. Croix 4 Action 1, 2d

2NOTE: 1 comment was referred to the CFMC from the GMFMC longline regulation

*A total of 54 commercial fishers were represented by N. Crespo, Rincón CommercialFisherman’s Union; Unknown number of recreational Breath Hold Spear Fishers, PuertoRico Free Divers Club was also represented.

Comments:Preferred Alternative – open the water column and

extend protection by three months to the bottom Most in favor of protecting fish spawning

aggregations and stated that the size of the fish harvested shows that the seasonal closures fore red hind and silk are working (compatible regulations)

Beach seines prohibited in the state waters and need BDC open to get bait for the deep water snapper fishery (skipjacks, rainbow runner, bonito, vaquita)

Heavy seas, not for deep water snapper fishing, thus need to fish for yelowfin tuna, blackfin tuna, dolphin fish, wahoo and mackerels to maintain income

Comments:If there is no place to harvest bait, then there

is no fishing and therefore, no incomeRecreational fishers have no license and are

favored since they are not regulated but commercial fishers are.

What are the benefits of keeping the water column closed (socio-economic benefits) during this economic crisis

Allow for blue water hunting targeting pelagics (wahoo, greater amberjack), no bycatch (apnea or free divers)

Comments:Charter operations have grown in numbers along

the with the development of tourism in the area (since 1996)

Busiest months are during the actual closures (wasted yield?) (December-February) and is an anachronism

Allow recreational and commercial harvest from the water column; it doesn’t harm the bottom

Safety issues if angling farther away (La Corona, Pichincho)

To protect coral, no anchoring

Comments:No Action (#8): review the original no fishing

for HMS; consider all the other regulations that are in place including the seasonal closures for red hind, snapper unit 1, ban on bottom gear, size limits of yellowtail snapper and spiny lobster and the closure of Nassau, Goliath and queen conch.

IssuesAnchoringCompatibility (EEZ/PR; CFMC/HMS)Allow yellowtail snapper – description of the

fisheryAllocation to recreational fishing (commercial

fishing for tunas, dorado, mackerels and wahoo?)

Use of planers

Planers and coralLots of criticisms for keeping the water

column closed: no harm to the bottom, allow commercial, charter and recreational harvest of HMS, billfish, coastal pelagics

BUTMPA WORKSHOP (1994) – recommendation

prohibit HMS and all fishing from MCD and other seasonally closed areas because of the use of planers and the potential for interaction with the coral and bottom habitat.

http://www.zwingdownrigger.com/

Status QuoSeasonal closure December through February, every

year (protect red hind spawning aggregation)Fishing is prohibited“Fishing means: (A) the catching, taking, or

harvesting of fish; (B) the attempted catching, taking, or harvesting of fish; ( C) any other activity which can reasonably be expected to result in the catching, taking, or harvesting of fish; or (D) any operations at sea in support of, or in preparation for, any activity described in subparagraphs (A) through ( C). (except scientific research by scientific vessel)

No bottom tending gear allowed year long (pots, traps, bottom long line, gill and trammel nets)

Action 1: Extend the Closed Action 1: Extend the Closed Season for Bajo de SicoSeason for Bajo de Sico

Dec-FebDec-Feb Oct-MarOct-Mar Dec-MayDec-May Jan-DecJan-Dec

No FISHING No FISHING ALLALL sp + HMS sp + HMS

Alt. 1 Alt. 1 No ActionNo Action(Status (Status quo)quo)

Alt. 2aAlt. 2a Alt. 3aAlt. 3a Alt. 4aAlt. 4a

No FISHING No FISHING No PossessionNo Possession

ALLALL sp + HMS sp + HMS

Alt. 2bAlt. 2b Alt. 3bAlt. 3b Alt. 4bAlt. 4bMost restrictiveMost restrictive

No Fishing No Fishing

FMP sp.FMP sp.Alt. 2cAlt. 2c Alt. 3cAlt. 3c Alt. 4cAlt. 4c

No Fishing No Fishing

No Possession No Possession FMP sp.FMP sp.

Alt. 2dAlt. 2d(Preferre(Preferred)d)

Alt. 3dAlt. 3d Alt. 4dAlt. 4d

Alternative 2 (Preferred):Alternative 2 (Preferred): Establish a 6 Establish a 6 month closure of Bajo de Sico from October 1 – month closure of Bajo de Sico from October 1 – March 31 in order to provide better protection March 31 in order to provide better protection for spawning aggregations of large snappers for spawning aggregations of large snappers and groupers as well as coral reef habitat.and groupers as well as coral reef habitat.

Option a: Prohibit fishing for all species, including Option a: Prohibit fishing for all species, including HMS HMS

Option b: Prohibit fishing for and possession of all Option b: Prohibit fishing for and possession of all species, including HMSspecies, including HMS

Option c: Prohibit fishing for council managed species Option c: Prohibit fishing for council managed species Option d (Preferred):Option d (Preferred): Prohibit fishing for and Prohibit fishing for and

possession of council managed speciespossession of council managed species

Action 1: Extend the Closed Season for Bajo de Sico Action 1: Extend the Closed Season for Bajo de Sico

Action 2: Prohibit Anchoring by Fishing Vessels.Action 2: Prohibit Anchoring by Fishing Vessels.

Alternative 1: No Action - do not prohibit Alternative 1: No Action - do not prohibit anchoring by fishing vessels.anchoring by fishing vessels.

Alternative 2: Prohibit anchoring for 6 months. Alternative 2: Prohibit anchoring for 6 months. The 6-month closure will coincide with the The 6-month closure will coincide with the closure period chosen in Action 1.closure period chosen in Action 1.

Alternative 3 (Preferred):Alternative 3 (Preferred): Prohibit Prohibit anchoring year-round.anchoring year-round.