Public HearingsBajo de Sico

Caribbean Fishery Management CouncilApril 22, 2009 –St. Thomas, USVI

April 23, 2009 –St. Croix, USVIApril 27, 2009 – Mayagüez, Puerto Rico

Council Managed Species

• Spiny lobster

• Reef fish (groupers, snappers, etc.)

• Queen conch

• Corals

• Note: These do not include: coastal pelagics (mahi, wahoo, among others) and HMS (marlin, highly migratory tuna species, among others).

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

• Alternative 1:Alternative 1: No Action - do not extend No Action - do not extend the seasonal closure of Bajo de Sico.the seasonal closure of Bajo de Sico.– All fishing is prohibited during December, All fishing is prohibited during December,

January and February of each year; all traps, January and February of each year; all traps, pots, nets, bottom longlines are prohibited pots, nets, bottom longlines are prohibited year round; anchor retrieval device requiered year round; anchor retrieval device requiered year round. year round.

Alternative 1: No Action (December 1 through Alternative 1: No Action (December 1 through end of February in the EEZ)end of February in the EEZ)

• Prohibited:Prohibited:– Reef Fish (groupers, Reef Fish (groupers,

snappers, etc.)snappers, etc.)– HMS (marlins, etc.)HMS (marlins, etc.)– Spiny LobsterSpiny Lobster– All Other SpeciesAll Other Species– Bottom-Tending Gear Bottom-Tending Gear

(year round)(year round)– TrollingTrolling– Other GearOther Gear

Permitted:Permitted: Transit with Fish on Transit with Fish on

Board BUT gear Board BUT gear properly stowed.properly stowed.

Anchoring with anchor Anchoring with anchor retrieval device.retrieval device.

SEASONAL AREA CLOSURESNo bottom longlines, pots, traps, gillnets, trammel nets allowed year-round

Bajo de Cico

Tourmaline

Abrir la Sierra

Red hind December-February Closures

• Alternative 2 (Preferred):Alternative 2 (Preferred): Establish a 6 month Establish a 6 month closure of Bajo de Sico from October 1 – 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:Option a: Prohibit fishing for all species, including Prohibit fishing for all species, including

HMS HMS – Option b:Option b: Prohibit fishing for and possession of all Prohibit fishing for and possession of all

species, including HMSspecies, including HMS– Option c:Option c: Prohibit fishing for council managed species Prohibit fishing for council managed species – Option d (Preferred):Option d (Preferred): Prohibit fishing for and Prohibit fishing for and

possession of council managed species possession of council managed species

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

• Alternative 3:Alternative 3: Establish a 6 month closure Establish a 6 month closure of Bajo de Sico from December 1 – May 31 of Bajo de Sico from December 1 – May 31 in order to provide better protection for in order to provide better protection for spawning aggregations of large snappers 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 Option c: Prohibit fishing for council managed species species

– Option d: Prohibit fishing for and possession of Option d: Prohibit fishing for and possession of council managed species council managed species

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

• Alternative 4:Alternative 4: Extend closure of Bajo de Sico Extend closure of Bajo de Sico to 12 months in order to provide full protection to 12 months in order to provide full 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 HMSOption a: Prohibit fishing for all species, including 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: Prohibit fishing for and possession of council Option d: Prohibit fishing for and possession of council

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

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

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