Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of America, and South Atlantic; Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan; Amendment 4
Key claim: NOAA is reclassifying rainbow runner in Puerto Rico from a reef fish to a pelagic fish and applying pelagic catch targets and accountability measures while keeping the existing catch limits.
Abstract
(Rule · Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) NMFS issues regulations to implement Amendment 4 to the Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan (Puerto Rico FMP), as prepared and submitted by the Caribbean Fishery Management Council (Council). This final rule reclassifies the rainbow runner from a reef fish to a pelagic fish under the Puerto Rico FMP and implements management measures for rainbow runner based on the pelagic fish classification, including sector annual catch targets (ACTs) and accountability measures (AMs). The existing sector-specific annual catch limits (ACLs) for rainbow runner will be retained after the reclassification. The purpose of this final rule and Amendment 4 is to ensure that rainbow runner is managed consistent with its life history characteristics, fishing patterns, and with the Council’s management of other pelagic species.
Why this matters
Reef fish and pelagic complexes in Puerto Rico operate under different catch-target buffers and accountability triggers, so moving a species between complexes changes how quickly in-season closures or payback provisions kick in even when the headline catch limit is unchanged. The reclassification matters for how NMFS tracks and enforces Puerto Rico landings but is confined to one species within a single regional FMP.