Request for Comments on a Proposed Rule to Implement Amendment 3 to the Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas and St. John Fishery Management Plans: Management Measures for[...]

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Key Message:

NOAA Fisheries requests your comments on the proposed rule to implement Amendment 3 to each of the Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas and St. John Fishery Management Plans (Amendment 3). For dolphinfish and wahoo, the proposed rule for Amendment 3 would establish minimum size limits for all fishing (commercial and recreational) and recreational bag limits in federal waters around Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Comments are due by October 28, 2024.

Summary of Proposed Changes:

Amendment 3 and the proposed rule would establish the following management measures.

For all fishing (commercial and recreational) in U.S. Caribbean federal waters:

• A 24-inch fork length minimum size limit for dolphinfish.
• A 32-inch fork length minimum size limit for wahoo.

For federal waters around Puerto Rico:

• A recreational bag limit of 5 dolphinfish per person per day, not to exceed 15 dolphinfish per vessel per day, whichever is less.
• A recreational bag limit of 5 wahoo per person per day, not to exceed 10 wahoo per vessel per day, whichever is less.

For federal waters around St. Croix and St. Thomas and St. John:

• A recreational bag limit of 10 dolphinfish per person per day, not to exceed 32 dolphinfish per vessel per day, whichever is less.
• A recreational bag limit of 2 wahoo per person per day, not to exceed 10 wahoo per vessel per day, whichever is less.

The purpose of Amendment 3 is to ensure dolphinfish and wahoo have adequate time to mature and reproduce, and to take a precautionary approach to management to protect against overfishing.

How to Comment on the Proposed Rule:

The comment period is open now through October 28, 2024. You may submit comments by electronic submission or by postal mail. Comments sent by any other method (such as e-mail), to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NOAA Fisheries.

Formal Federal RegisterName/Number: 89 FR 79220, published September 27, 2024

Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.

1. Go to https://www.regulations.gov/document/NOAA-NMFS-2024-0070-0009.
2. Click the "Comment" icon and complete the required fields.
3. Enter or attach your comments.

Mail: Submit written comments to Sarah Stephenson, Southeast Regional Office, NOAA Fisheries, 263 13^th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701.

What is NOAA Fisheries announcing today?

• NOAA Fisheries is announcing a public comment period for the proposed rule for Amendment 3 to add minimum size limits and recreational bag limits for dolphinfish and wahoo in U.S. Caribbean federal waters.
• The comment period on the proposed rule is open from September 27, 2024, through October 28, 2024.
• NOAA Fisheries requested comments on Amendment 3 on September 6, 2024, which will be accepted through November 5, 2024.
• Comments on both the proposed rule and Amendment 3 will be considered in the final rule.

Why is NOAA Fisheries proposing this action?

• Dolphinfish and wahoo came under Federal fisheries management in 2022 under the Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas and St. John Fishery Management Plans. Each Fishery Management Plan and associated final rule established annual catch limits, annual catch targets, and accountability measures for dolphinfish and wahoo, but did not establish other management measures often used to limit harvest or effort such as minimum size limits or recreational bag limits.
• The Caribbean Fishery Management Council is concerned about the increasing opportunity for the overharvest of juvenile dolphinfish or wahoo as a result of the increasing influx and presence of Sargassumin the region. Sargassumis a type of floating brown algae that provides food, protection, and habitat for many marine species. Sargassummats are natural fish aggregating devices for dolphinfish and wahoo, including juveniles of each species, making them easier to locate and catch by fishermen.
• The Caribbean Fishery Management Council is also concerned about the lack of information available on the recreational harvest of dolphinfish and wahoo and the potential for excess harvest of the species to occur during recreational fishing trips.
• Through Amendment 3, NOAA Fisheries and the Caribbean Fishery Management Council are taking a precautionary approach to management to ensure dolphinfish and wahoo have adequate time to mature and reproduce and to protect against overfishing.

Where can I find more information on Amendment 3?

• Contact NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office

By Mail: Sarah Stephenson
NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office
Sustainable Fisheries Division
263 13th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505

By FAX: (727) 824-5308

By Phone: (727) 824-5305

Sign Up For Text Message Alerts - Find Out About Immediate Openings and Closures

NOAA's Text Message Alert Program allows you to receive important fishery related alerts via text message (SMS). Standard message & data rates may apply. You may opt-out at any time. Text alerts you may receive include:

• Immediate fishery openings and closures
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Quick Glance Contact Listfor the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office

Permits Mailbox: The Permits Office in St. Petersburg, Florida now has a Permits mailbox in the front lobby (263 13th Ave. South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701). You can now drop off original permits for permit transfers. Envelopes with information labels will be provided so that your documents can be attached to the correct application. The mailbox will be checked daily. For more information, contact the Permits Office at 877-376-4877.

Other contacts:

Media: Allison Garrett, 727-551-5750
NOAA Fisheries' Southeast Recreational Fishing Coordinator: Sean Meehan, 727-385-5202