purpose and need
DESCRIPTION
Regulatory Amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for Queen Conch Resources of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands . Purpose and Need. June 2008 U.S.V.I. Regulations 50,000 lb Quota in STX, 50,000 lb Quota in STT/STJ Closed Season (June 1 – Oct 31) - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Regulatory Amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for Queen Conch Resources of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
2
Purpose and Need
• June 2008 U.S.V.I. Regulations• 50,000 lb Quota in STX, 50,000 lb Quota in STT/STJ • Closed Season (June 1 – Oct 31)
• St. Croix Quota Closure – May 1, 2009
• Federal Regulations• No quota• Lang Bank Open October 1 – June 30 (closed July 1 – Sept
30)
• Compatible Regulations
3
Background
• Queen Conch FMP• Queen Conch Amendment 1
• Prohibit commercial and recreational harvest, possession of queen conch in federal waters of the U.S. Caribbean, with the exception of Lang Bank
• Queen Conch Amendment 2 • Comprehensive ACL Amendment
(Under Development)
4
Queen Conch, Strombus gigas
Photo courtesy of: NOAA Fisheries Service Protected Resources Division
5
Lang Bank is defined as the area east of 64°34’W bound within the 100 fathom curve.
6
Reported Landings
Reported landings of queen conch (lbs). Source: SEFSC.
Year St. Croix
St. Thomas/ St. John
Total U.S.V.I. % St. Croix
% St. Thomas/ St. John
2000 76,999 1,083 78,082 98.6% 1.4%2001 113,444 1,847 115,291 98.4% 1.6%2002 116,492 2,172 118,664 98.2% 1.8%2003 108,174 3,339 111,513 97.0% 3.0%2004 125,258 1,022 126,280 99.2% 0.8%2005 161,452 429 161,881 99.7% 0.3%2006 221,966 3,989 225,955 98.2% 1.8%2007 76,086 1,124 77,210 98.5% 1.5%Average 124,984 1,876 126,859 98.5% 1.5%
8
Action 1: Compatible Regulations
• Alternative 1: No Action. Do not establish compatible regulations with U.S. Virgin Islands
• Alternative 2: Establish compatible closure regulations with U.S. Virgin Islands (Quota and Seasonal Closures – June 1 through October 31)
9
Proposed Changes
• Compatible Closure when Territorial Quota is Met• Whenever quota is met to November 1
• Closed Season:• July 1 through September 30 June 1 through
October 31
10
Questions?
Photo courtesy of: Caribbean Fishery Management Council
11
USVI Trip/Bag Limit
• Commercial: 150 per person per day 200 per boat per day
• Recreational: 3 per person per day (no more than 12 per boat) 6 per person per day (no more than 24 per boat)