1. Regulatory Amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for Queen Conch Resources of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

2. St. Croix Quota Closure – May 1, 2009 Federal Regulations
Purpose and Need
June 2008 U.S.V.I. Regulations
50,000 lb Quota in STX, 50,000 lb Quota in STT/STJ
Closed Season (June 1 – Oct 31)
St. Croix Quota Closure – May 1, 2009
Federal Regulations
No quota
Lang Bank Open October 1 – June 30 (closed July 1 – Sept 30)
Compatible Regulations
In order to eliminate overfishing of queen conch, the U.S.V.I. established a quota for queen conch harvest in June Separate quotas were enacted for St. Croix and St. Thomas/St. John.
The St. Croix queen conch quota for the 2008/2009 fishing year was reached on May 1, 2009, therefore the queen conch fishery was closed until the end of the fishing year (November 1). Federal regulations for Lang Bank allow for an overlap with the U.S.V.I. open season but Lang Bank currently remains open when territorial waters close due to the quota being met. On April 21, 2009, the U.S.V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources asked the Council to implement compatible regulations with the U.S.V.I. territorial quota closure.

3. Background Queen Conch FMP Queen Conch Amendment 1
Prohibit commercial and recreational harvest, possession of queen conch in federal waters of the U.S. Caribbean, with the exception of Lang Bank
Queen Conch Amendment 2
Comprehensive ACL Amendment
(Under Development)
In 2005, Amendment 1 to the Queen Conch FMP was implemented through the Comprehensive Sustainable Fisheries Act Amendment to the Spiny Lobster, Queen Conch, Reef Fish, and Coral and Coral Reefs Fishery Management Plans (Comprehensive SFA Amendment). To implement a rebuilding plan, the Council prohibited commercial and recreational harvest, and possession of queen conch in federal waters of the U.S. Caribbean, with the exception of Lang Bank near St. Croix, which is open for harvest from October 1 through June 30. For the purposes of this amendment, Lang Bank is defined as the area east of 64°34’W bound within the 100 fathom curve. Figure 2.2 illustrates Lang Bank and the location in relation to St. Croix, U.S.V.I.

4. Queen Conch, Strombus gigas
Photo courtesy of: NOAA Fisheries Service Protected Resources Division

5. Lang Bank is defined as the area east of 64°34’W bound within the 100 fathom curve.

6. Reported landings of queen conch (lbs). Source: SEFSC.
Year
St. Croix
St. Thomas/ St. John
Total U.S.V.I.
% St. Croix
% St. Thomas/ St. John
2000
76,999
1,083
78,082
98.6%
1.4%
2001
113,444
1,847
115,291
98.4%
1.6%
2002
116,492
2,172
118,664
98.2%
1.8%
2003
108,174
3,339
111,513
97.0%
3.0%
2004
125,258
1,022
126,280
99.2%
0.8%
2005
161,452
429
161,881
99.7%
0.3%
2006
221,966
3,989
225,955
2007
76,086
1,124
77,210
98.5%
1.5%
Average
124,984
1,876
126,859

7. Action 1: Compatible Regulations
Alternative 1: No Action. Do not establish compatible regulations with U.S. Virgin Islands
Alternative 2: Establish compatible closure regulations with U.S. Virgin Islands (Quota and Seasonal Closures – June 1 through October 31)

8. Compatible Closure when Territorial Quota is Met
Proposed Changes
Compatible Closure when Territorial Quota is Met
Whenever quota is met to November 1
Closed Season:
July 1 through September 30  June 1 through October 31

9. Questions?
Photo courtesy of: Caribbean Fishery Management Council

10. USVI Trip/Bag Limit
Commercial: 150 per person per day  200 per boat per day
Recreational: 3 per person per day (no more than 12 per boat)  6 per person per day (no more than 24 per boat)