Amendment 4 to the Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan: Reclassification of the Rainbow Runner as a Pelagic Fish
Summary
Amendment 4 reclassifies rainbow runner from the Reef Fish group to the Pelagic Fish group under the Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan. This reclassification changes four elements of the species’ management: (1) establishes an annual catch target consistent with management of the Pelagic Fish group; (2) applies the accountability measure for the Pelagic Fish group under the Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan in the event landings exceed the annual catch target; (3) removes the harvest restrictions applicable for Reef Fish during the six month seasonal closure in the Bajo de Sico management area off western Puerto Rico; and 4) removes rainbow runner from the aggregate recreational bag limit for select reef fish.
This action would ensure the species is managed in accordance with its life history characteristics and fishing patterns, and that federal management is consistent with the Council’s management of pelagic species.