Framework Action 3 to the Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan: Modification of Status Determination Criteria and Management Reference Points for the Triggerfish Stock Complex based on the SEDAR 80 Queen Triggerfish Stock Assessment

Framework Action 3 would update management reference points for the Triggerfish stock complex under the Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan to account for the SEDAR 80 Puerto Rico Queen Triggerfish Stock Assessment. In the Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan, queen triggerfish is managed in the Triggerfish stock complex with ocean triggerfish (turco, in Spanish) and gray triggerfish (peje puerco blanco, in Spanish). Queen triggerfish is the indicator stock for the complex, which means that the management reference points and are based on landings of queen triggerfish only, but management measures would apply to all species in the complex.

Under the action, the annual catch limits for the Triggerfish stock complex would be updated to:

• 80,041 pounds (whole weight) for the commercial sector and
• 7,178 pounds (whole weight) for the recreational sector.

Framework Action 3