Fisheries of the Caribbean: Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan; Amendment 4

The purpose of Amendment 4 and the proposed rule is to reclassify rainbow runner from a Reef Fish to a Pelagic Fish under the Puerto Rico FMP. This reclassification would change four elements of the species’ management: (1) establish an annual catch target consistent with management of the Pelagic Fish group; (2) apply the accountability measure for the Pelagic Fish group under the Puerto Rico FMP; (3) remove the harvest restriction applicable to Reef Fish during the six month seasonal area closure in the Bajo de Sico management area off western Puerto Rico; and 4) remove rainbow runner from the Reef Fish aggregate recreational bag limit.