Annual Catch Limit Monitoring under the St. Thomas and St. John Fishery Management Plan

This page was updated August 29, 2023

Landings Data

Under the St. Thomas and St. John Fishery Management Plan, species are managed individually (stock), in a group with similar species (stock complex), or as a representative species in a group of similar species (indicator stock). 

In the U.S. Virgin Islands, recreational landings data are not available, so annual catch limits are based on commercial landings data. The annual catch limits apply to all harvest for the stocks and stock complexes in federal waters, whether commercial or recreational.  As described in the St. Thomas and St. John Fishery Management Plan, NOAA Fisheries will compare specific years of landings data to the annual catch limits and annual catch targets to monitor compliance. The years of landings are described below.

• In the first year of implementation (2023), NOAA Fisheries will use the most recent single year of landings;

• In the second year of implementation (2024), NOAA Fisheries will use the next single year of landings;

• In the third year of implementation (2025), NOAA Fisheries will use the average of the most recent 2 years of landings;

• Thereafter, NOAA Fisheries will use the average of the most recent 3 years of landings.

Under Framework Amendment 1, the accountability measure process was updated and will compare the average of the most recent 3-year of landings for spiny lobster to the average annual catch limits in place during those 3 years.

Indicator Stocks

• For stock complexes with an indicator stock selected, landings of the indicator stock will be compared to the annual catch limit and any required accountability measure would be applied to all stocks within the stock complex.

• For stock complexes without an indicator stock selected, the combined landings of all the stocks in the complex will be compared to the annual catch limit and any required accountability measure would be applied to all stocks within the stock complex.

Prohibited Stocks

• Stocks for which harvest is prohibited in federal waters off St. Thomas and St. John include queen conch, Nassau grouper, and goliath grouper.

• Stock complexes for which harvest is prohibited in federal waters off St. Thomas and St. John include Parrotfish 1 (blue parrotfish, midnight parrotfish, and rainbow parrotfish), Sea Cucumbers, Sea Urchins, and Corals.

Preliminary Landings and Annual Catch Limits for Stocks and Stock Complexes Managed in the St. Thomas and St. John Fishery Management Plan

* Annual catch limitS apply to all harvest, commercial and recreational.

Indicator stock(s) for the stock complex in bold.

Annual catch targets have been established for the pelagic stocks new to federal management, at 90% of the annual catch limit. If landings exceed the annual catch target, the Council in consultation with the Southeast Fisheries Science Center would determine whether corrective action is needed.

Preliminary Landings and Annual Catch Targets for Pelagic Stocks Managed in the St. Thomas and St. John Fishery Management Plan

*Annual catch targets apply to all harvest, commercial and recreational.