Regulatory Amendment 2 Queen Conch Fishery Management Plan

Regulatory Amendment 2 Queen Conch Fishery Management Plan Compatibility of Commercial Trip Limits and Recreational Bag Limits in the Management Area of St. Croix, USVI PUBLIC HEARING –St. Croix March 25, 2013 Caribbean Fishery Management Council 145 th Meeting St. Croix USVI

Comments Received DEPONENT Comments E. Schuster FAC St. Croix Seasonal closure and Action 1/Alternative 2 50000 lb quota Action 2/Alternative compatible, 200 qc per vessel per day recommendation per FAC, USVI change to 3 qc and 12 per vessel—make it compatible with the EEX B. Kojis Suggested public hearing in St. Thomas to discuss recreational alternatives W. Tobias Recommendations Action 1/Alternative 2 Action 2/Alternative 2

Additional Comments • QC recreational harvest in EEZ unknown: 99% in territorial waters • Require federal permit to fish queen conch in the EEZ; require specific reporting (clean/unclean meat %) • Diver safety: commercial and recreational divers lost at sea, require safety surface buoy while diving with identification and permit number • Act 3330 defines helpers for traps and seines, more effort in the queen conch fishery • HOOKAH is prohibited in the USVI (correction to the document • Enforcement: black market for queen conch during closed season; underreporting (e. g. , 30, 000 lbs in 2011) • Port sampling needs to be increased and include both the commercial and the recreational harvest

Comments at CFMC 145 th • Check HOOKAH –not in the regulations

CFMC Final Action

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