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Caribbean Gillnet Fishery - MMPA List of Fisheries

U.S. fisheries are classified under the Marine Mammal Protection Act according to the level of interactions that result in incidental mortality or serious injury of marine mammals.

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Current Classification on the List of Fisheries

CategoryIII
Estimated Number of Participants127
Target Species

Baitfish including ballyhoo, gar, flying fish;

Yellowtail snapper, White grunt, Porgies, Cero Mackerel9

Applicable Take Reduction PlansNone
Observer CoverageNone
Marine Mammal Species/Stocks Killed or InjuredNone documented in the most recent five years of data

^Number of participants estimates are based on state and federal fisheries permit data. The estimated number of participants is expressed in terms of the number of active participants in the fishery, when possible. If this information is not available, the estimated number of vessels or persons licensed for a particular fishery is provided. If no recent information is available on the number of participants, then the number from the most recent LOF is used. NOAA Fisheries acknowledges that, in some cases, these estimations may be inflating actual effort.

*Observer coverage levels include the latest information reported in the most current final Stock Assessment Report.

Basis for Current Classification

There are no known incidental mortalities or serious injuries of marine mammals in this fishery. However, since there is no systematic observer program, it is not possible to estimate the total number of interactions or mortalities associated with gillnet fisheries in the U.S. Caribbean. 

Distribution

Gillnet use occurs throughout the U.S. Caribbean. However, in the federal waters of the U.S. Caribbean economic exclusive zone (EEZ) and the territorial waters of the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) only the use of tended gillnets targeting baitfish (ballyhoo, gar, and flying fish) is permitted 1, 2, 3, 5. All other gillnet use is prohibited 1, 2, 3, 5.  In Puerto Rico, gillnets are permitted except for within 300 meters in any direction of the mouth of a river7.

Gear Description

In the USVI, the only type of gillnet allowed are single-wall surface gillnets targeting baitfish5. Nets may not be more than 1,800 ft in length as measured by the float line, and may not be used within 20 ft of the bottom. Mesh size may not be smaller than 0.75-inch square or 1.5-inch stretch5.

In Puerto Rico, this fishery uses bottom and surface gillnets (trasmallo or filete4) and trammel nets (mallorquín4) consisting of a trammel with three net cloths tied to a line of buoys7.  Gillnets or trammel nets cannot have mesh size greater than 6 inches (as measured from knot to knot of extension)7. For trammel nets, the outer cloths may not have a mesh larger than 6 inches (from knot to knot)7. Additionally, trammel nets used for bait fishing may not be more than a quarter 0.25 inch (knot-to-knot opening)7.

Management

In Federal waters, this fishery is managed by the Caribbean Fishery Management Council (CFMC). The Council manages the area from 3 to 200 nautical miles (nm) off the coasts of the USVI (St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John), and 9 to 200 nm off the coast of Puerto Rico. The CFMC is currently drafting island-based Fishery Management Plans (FMPs), a change of course from its current species-based FMPs. Island-based FMPs will allow the Council to focus regulations around island specific roles that fisheries play. 

The 2005 Amendment 3 to the Reef Fish FMP, which was part of the Caribbean Sustainable Fisheries Act Amendment, prohibited the use of gillnets and trammel nets to harvest Caribbean reef fish or Caribbean lobster in the federal waters of the U.S. Caribbean EEZ 1, 2, 3.  Gillnets used for catching baitfish (ballyhoo, gar, and flying fish) are permitted, but must be tended at all times.  Additionally, Amendment 3 prohibited the use of bottom tending gear, including gillnets, in the seasonally closed areas of Tourmaline, Bajo de Sico, Abrir la Sierra, Lang Bank, the Mutton Snapper Spawning Aggregation Area, and Grammanik Bank 1, 2, 3.

The territorial waters of the USVI, from 0 to 3 nautical miles offshore, are managed by the USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR). The use of gillnets is prohibited, with the exception of tended single-wall surface gillnets targeting baitfish5. Only one bait net is permitted per boat and all other prohibited nets may not be possessed onboard vessels in territorial waters5.  

The jurisdictional waters of PR, from 0-9 nautical miles offshore, are managed by the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA).  DRNA Regulation 7949, permits the use of gillnets and trammel nets, except in inner water and rivers mouths7. Additionally, it prohibits the use of gillnets and trammel nets in conjunction with diving equipment (“Scuba”), except by written authorization from the Secretary for the capture of lionfish7.

Historical Information

Original Category (Year added to the LOF)III (2001)
Original Number of Participants>991
Basis for Original ClassificationThis fishery was originally listed as Category III; Caribbean stranding network has recorded a gillnet interaction with a dwarf sperm whale over the last 10 years.  Over the last 20 years, West Indian manatees have interacted with gillnets in the Caribbean. 
Past NamesN/A
Species/stocks historically documented as killed or injured (but not currently on the list)

Dwarf sperm whale, WNA; 

West Indian manatee, Antillean

 

Timeline of Changes

2021
  • Estimated number of participants updated form >991 to 127.
2013
  • Removed dwarf sperm whale, WNA, as there was no known mortality or injuries in the last five years with this species and fishery. 
2011
  • Removed West Indian Manatee (Antillean subspecies) based on lack of evidence from stranding events provided in the Fish and Wildlife Service 2009 SAR, lack of evidence from stranding events, and the implementation of Puerto Rico Regulation 6768.
2010
  • Puerto Rico DRNA issued Regulation 7949 which supersedes the Regulation 6768, but continued to prohibit the use of gillnets within inner waters and river mouths7. 
2008
  • USVI DPNR began strictly enforcing the prohibition on gill and trammel nets for reef fish to reduce overfishing of the territory's waters.
2006
  • USVI DPNR prohibited the use of trammel and gill nets in territorial waters.
2005
  • Amendment 3 to the Reef Fish FMP prohibited the use of gillnets and trammel nets in the EEZ (federal waters) for Caribbean reef fish and Caribbean spiny lobster. Only gillnets used to target baitfish are allowed, and they must be tended 1,2,3. 
  • USVI DPNR finalized their first consolidated management plan, the Marine Resources and Fisheries Strategic and Comprehensive Conservation Plan8.
2004
  • Puerto Rico DRNA implemented Regulation 6768, which prohibited the use of gillnets within inner waters and river mouths6.
2001
  • Listed as Category III
  • Caribbean stranding network recorded a gillnet interaction with a dwarf sperm whale over the last 10 years.  
  • West Indian manatees have interacted with gillnets in the Caribbean within the last 20 years.  

1Caribbean Fishery Management Council and National Marine Fisheries Service. 2019. Comprehensive Fishery Management Plan for the St. Thomas/St. John Exclusive Economic Zone, CFMC 165th Meeting – Briefing Book Version. 478 pp. https://www.caribbeanfmc.com/Briefing_Books/165th_Meeting/EA_FMP_DRAFT_STTSTJ_Briefing_Book_Version.pdf

2Caribbean Fishery Management Council and National Marine Fisheries Service. 2019.  Comprehensive Fishery Management Plan for the St. Croix Exclusive Economic Zone, CFMC 165th Meeting – Briefing Book Version. 488 pp. https://www.caribbeanfmc.com/Briefing_Books/165th_Meeting/EA_FMP_DRAFT_STX_Briefing_Book_Version.pdf

3Caribbean Fishery Management Council and National Marine Fisheries Service. 2019. Comprehensive Fishery Management Plan for the Puerto Rico Exclusive Economic Zone, CFMC 165th Meeting – Briefing Book Version. 608 pp. https://www.caribbeanfmc.com/Briefing_Books/165th_Meeting/EA_FMP_DRAFT_Puerto_Rico_Version_1_BB_4.17.2019_FINAL_1.pdf

4Lopez, Maria, 13 April 2020, personal communication.

5Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife. 2018. Commercial & Recreational Fishers’ Information Handbook, Summary of Fishing Regulations. 48 pp. 

6Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources. 2004. Supplementary Flier Puerto Rico Fishing Regulation 6768.  https://www.caribbeanfmc.com/meetings/CFMC%20MEETINGS/127%20regular%20meeting-MARCH%2026-27-2008/127%20presentaciones/PR%20Fishing%20Regs%20-%20good%20one.pdf

7Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources. 2010. Puerto Rico Fishing Regulation 7949.

https://docslib.org/doc/5178521/fishery-regulations-and-permits-puerto-rico-fishery-regulation-no

8U.S. Virgin Islands, Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife. 2005. U.S. Virgin Islands Marine Resources and Fisheries Strategic and Comprehensive Conservation Plan. https://ufdc.ufl.edu/CA01300948/00001/pdf

9Rodriguez-Ferrer, Grisel, 11 July 2019, personal communication

Last updated by Office of Protected Resources on 10/09/2024

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