Update of Annual Catch Limit Landings for Caribbean Reef Fishes and Projected Season Lengths

The U.S. Caribbean is composed of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Federal waters of this region are managed by the Caribbean Fishery Management Council (Caribbean Council). In January 2012, NOAA Fisheries implemented Annual Catch Limit (ACL) Amendments for federally managed species in the Caribbean. The Caribbean Council established ACLs for all federally managed species included in the Reef Fish, Queen Conch, Spiny Lobster, and Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates Fishery Management Plans (FMPs). Accountability measures (AMs) were also established requiring NOAA Fisheries to reduce the length of the fishing season if it has been determined that landings in the prior year(s) exceeded the ACL for that species and/or species group. For purposes of ACL monitoring, a 3‐average of landings is used. 2015 NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) SER (Southeast Region) Submitted Public Domain 1930