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DOC/NOAA RIN: 0648-BM94 Publication ID: Spring 2025 
Title: Amendment 2 to the Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas/St. John Fishery Management Plans: Trawl, Net Gear, and Descending Devices 
Abstract:

Amendment 2 to the Comprehensive FMP for the Puerto Rico Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the Comprehensive FMP for the St. Croix EEZ, and the Comprehensive FMP for the St. Thomas and St. John EEZ (Amendment 2) and the proposed rule would prohibit the use of trawl nets, purse seines, and trammel nets for all fishing in federal waters around Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas/St. John, prohibit the use of gillnets for all fishing except for the use of surface gillnets that meet specified requirements for the harvest of non-federally managed fish species in federal waters around Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas/St. John, and require that descending devices are available and ready for use when fishing for reef fish species managed by the Caribbean Fishery Management Council in federal waters around the U.S. Caribbean. The need for this action is to minimize the potentially adverse effects of fishing habitats and associated species and to minimize the mortality of bycatch species. The Caribbean Council approved Amendment 2 to the Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas/St. John Fishery Management Plans: Trawl, Net Gear, and Descending Devices in December 2023.

 
Agency: Department of Commerce(DOC)  Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Final Rule Stage 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
EO 14192 Designation: Not subject to, not significant 
CFR Citation: 50 CFR 622   
Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  09/30/2024  89 FR 79492   
NPRM Comment Period End  10/30/2024 
Final Action  07/00/2025 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: None 
Small Entities Affected: Businesses  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Andrew J. Strelcheck
Regional Administrator, Southeast Region
Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
263 13th Avenue South,
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Phone:727 824-5305
Email: andy.strelcheck@noaa.gov