Workplan Overview for the Marine Habitat Resource Specialist/Fishery
Liaison – Puerto Rico
Helena Antoun Fishery Liaison – Puerto Rico
ERT, Inc. In support of:
NOAA-‐Na>onal Marines Fisheries Service Protected resource Division [email protected]
(787)729-‐6848, (939) 438-‐3123
In support of the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program * NMFS – Habitat Conservation Division and Protected
Resources Division * Promote the goals and objectives of NMFS, CRCP, and local
coral reef initiatives by supplying needed capacity to Puerto Rico
Marine Habitat Resource Specialist and Fishery Liaison
DNER’s Coastal Zone Management Division and Coral Reef Conservation Program. * Ramicrusta sp. invasion and management alternatives.
* Law Enforcement * Adverse impacts by recreational fishers
Puerto Rico DNER’s Top 3 Priority Areas
Addressing Adverse Impacts of Recreational Fishing
SALT WATER RECREATIONAL FISHERS EDUCATION PROGRAM
Project Description: Modeled after the Commercial Fishers Education Program (PEPCO), design and develop an educational program tailored to the salt water recreational fisher. Goals: Educate recreational fishers on current fishing laws and regulations • Promote stewardship • Promote sustainable fishing practices to help promote healthy coral reef ecosystems. Objectives: Identify key areas and issues that need addressing to achieve program goals • design and develop an educational workshop • Develop a strategy plan to maximize outreach impact in the recreational fishing community • Conduct pilot workshops in key target areas • Long term program
SALT WATER RECREATIONAL FISHERS EDUCATION PROGRAM
SALT WATER RECREATIONAL FISHERS EDUCATION PROGRAM
Scoping meetings
Program development Implementation
Arecibo Nautical Club Facebook Live https://www.facebook.com/clubnauticoarecibo/videos/287776968525707/
USACE, San Juan
* #1 Priority area: law enforcement § Increase implementation of laws and regulations and increase
surveillance. * Local fishing laws and regulations
§ regulated species, bag limits * Impact of illegal sales * Science behind the management
§ size and reproduction potential * Anchoring and boating impacts * Environmental awareness
§ derelict gear is a problem
Meeting Outcomes Priority Areas
Concluding remarks: * Program will be available as workshop seminars and
webinars * Instructors: potentially look into recruiting and training
volunteers * Curriculum topics will be prioritized and refined * Planning and coordination will be done by fishery liaison in
collaboration with DNER * Tournaments have begun establishing weight limits. Need
to help fuel the trend so that other tournaments begin to adopt this practice.
SALT WATER RECREATIONAL FISHERS EDUCATION PROGRAM
Questions?
* 3 main groups: 1. Shoreline 2. Boating/kayaking 3. Charters Shoreline fishers are thought to make up the largest % of recreational fishers, have the highest priority in outreach and education needs, and are the most challenging to reach. Boating and kayak are the second priority group followed by charters.
Meeting Outcomes Identifying Recreational Fishing groups
* Workshops are important * Other widescale strategies: * Bulletin boards * Posters * Infographs * Videos * Pocket guides (regulations and species I.D.) * Social media * Walmart, West Marine and other sporting stores as a means for distributing
information and funding. * Tournament sponsors * Magazines * Newspapers * Radio
* Contacto Verde (youth programs)
Meeting Outcomes Outreach and Education Strategies
* Curriculum development § Topics
Phase 2 – Education Program Design
o Fishing regula>ons o Regulated species
§ Seasonal closures § Size limit: regula>ons/ biological jus>fica>ons
§ Bag limits o Science behind the
management o Impact of illegal fishing o Caricoos o Marine debris awareness
o Impact of illegal sales and re-‐selling of catch
o Value of recrea>onal fisheries vs. commercial fisheries
o Anchoring (mostly by boaters, not so much by fishers)
o Fishing techniques: hook types, measuring techniques
o Op>mal catch and release techniques
o Bait o Tagging programs o FADs
Training Module 1. Fishery Laws and Regulations in Puerto Rico 1. Puerto Rico State Fishery Laws and Regulations
1. Law No. 278 of 1998, Fishery Law of Puerto Rico 2. Puerto Rico State Jurisdiction 3. General Fishing Regulations 4. Recreational Fishery Regulations
2. Federal Fishery Laws that Govern Puerto Rico 1. Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 2. Federal Jurisdiction – Puerto Rico EEZ 3. General Federal Fishing Laws and Regulations 4. Federal Regulations for Recreation Fisheries
3. Protected Areas 4. Supplementary Material
Phase 2 – Education Program Design Draft Curriculum
Training Module 2. Regulated Marine Species in Puerto Rico
2.1 Prohibited Species 2.1.1 Prohibited Species in Puerto Rico State Waters 2.1.2 Prohibited Species in Federal Waters
2.2 Regulated Marine Species 2.3 Catch and Release 2.4 Supplementary Material
Phase 2 – Education Program Design Draft Curriculum
Training Module 3. Highly Migratory Species. 3.1 HMS Jurisdiction 3.2 Catch Report Requirements 3.3 Permits and Endorsements 3.4 Authorized HMS Fishing Gear 3.5 Billfish 3.6 Swordfish 3.7 Tunas and Bays 3.8 Sharks 3.9 Charter and Headboats 3.10 Tournaments 3.11 National Saltwater Recreational Fishery Registration 3.12 Supplementary Material
Phase 2 – Education Program Design Draft Curriculum
* Calcareous red algae. * 1st reported in the western Atlantic in 2009 * Ballantine 2011, Caja de Muertos
Ramicrusta sp.
