See current rules that are open for comment here.
To reach Sustainable Fisheries staff, please call 727-824-5305.
*Executive Order 14172, “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” (Jan. 20, 2025), directs that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America. Gulf of America references in this website refer to the same area as the Gulf of Mexico in the applicable regulations under 50 CFR parts 216–219, 222–226, and 600–699. The name change did not result in any changes to, and had no effect on the applicability or enforceability of, any existing regulations. This website continues to use “Gulf of Mexico” when quoting statutes, existing regulations, or previously published materials.
To reach Sustainable Fisheries staff, please call 727-824-5305.
*Executive Order 14172, “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” (Jan. 20, 2025), directs that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America. Gulf of America references in this website refer to the same area as the Gulf of Mexico in the applicable regulations under 50 CFR parts 216–219, 222–226, and 600–699. The name change did not result in any changes to, and had no effect on the applicability or enforceability of, any existing regulations. This website continues to use “Gulf of Mexico” when quoting statutes, existing regulations, or previously published materials.
Species managed: hard corals, aquacultured live rock
See current rules that are open for comment here.
To reach Sustainable Fisheries staff, please call (727) 824-5305, or see individual Fishery Management Plan Actions for specific contacts.
*Executive Order 14172, “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” (Jan. 20, 2025), directs that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America. Gulf of America references in this website refer to the same area as the Gulf of Mexico in the applicable regulations under 50 CFR parts 216–219, 222–226, and 600–699. The name change did not result in any changes to, and had no effect on the applicability or enforceability of, any existing regulations. This website continues to use “Gulf of Mexico” when quoting statutes, existing regulations, or previously published materials.
The Queen Conch Fishery Management Plan of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands managed harvest of queen conch from U.S. Caribbean federal waters. However, harvest in federal waters was limited to an area off St. Croix, which includes portions of Lang Bank.
In 2022, management of federal fisheries in the U.S. Caribbean transitioned from four U.S. Caribbean-wide fishery management plans to three island-based plans: the Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan, the St. Thomas and St. John Fishery Management Plan, and the St. Croix Fishery Management Plan. The new island-based plans include select fishery management measures included in the Queen Conch Fishery Management Plan that are applicable to the management area for each island or island group.
To reach Sustainable Fisheries staff, please call (727) 824-5305.
The Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates Fishery Management Plan of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands managed coral reef resources, including a vast array of coral and sponge species, plants, and invertebrates that provide habitats that are essential to the growth, development, and survival of managed finfish and other marine organisms.
Managed resources included species of Coelenterates, Sponges, Annelid Worms, Mollusks, Arthropods, Echinoderms, and Chordates in the waters off of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In 2022, management of federal fisheries in the U.S. Caribbean transitioned from four U.S. Caribbean-wide fishery management plans to three island-based plans: the Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan, the St. Thomas and St. John Fishery Management Plan, and the St. Croix Fishery Management Plan. The new island-based plans include select fishery management measures included in the Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates Fishery Management Plan that are applicable to the management area for each island or island group.
To reach Sustainable Fisheries staff, please call 727-824-5305.