1. PUBLIC HEARINGS (7:10 – 8:00 pm) Puerto Rico July 23, 2012, DoubleTree by Hilton San Juan, De Diego Avenue, San Juan, Puerto Rico July 24, 2011, Asociación de Pescadores, Villa Pesquera Playa Hucar, 66.7 km., Highway 3, Naguabo, Puerto Rico July 25, 2012, Holiday Inn Mayagüez, 2701 Highway #2, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico July 26, 2012, Ponce Holiday Inn, 3315 Ponce by Pass, Ponce, Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands July 24, 2012, Windward Passage Hotel, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands July 25, 2012, The Buccaneer Hotel, Estate Shoys, Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands Draft Regulatory Amendment 4 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (parrotfish minimum size limits) CARRIBEAN FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

2. Actions/Alternatives  Alternative 1: No Action: Do not establish minimum size limits for the commercial (Action 1)/recreational (Action 2) sector harvest of the parrotfish unit of the reef fish fishery.  Alternative 2: Establish minimum size limits for the commercial (Action 1)/recreational (Action 2) sector harvest of the parrotfish unit of the reef fish fishery in St. Croix.  No Commercial/Recreational Minimum Size Limit  9 inches fork length (FL)  10 inches FL  11 inches FL  12 inches FL CARRIBEAN FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

3. Actions/Alternatives  Alternative 3: Establish minimum size limits for the commercial (Action 1)/recreational (Action 2) sector harvest of the parrotfish unit of the reef fish fishery in St. Thomas/St. John.  No Commercial/Recreational Minimum Size Limit  9 inches FL  10 inches FL  11 inches FL  12 inches FL  Alternative 4: Establish minimum size limits for the commercial (Action 1)/recreational (Action 2) sector harvest of the parrotfish unit of the reef fish fishery in Puerto Rico.  No Commercial/Recreational Minimum Size Limit  9 inches FL  10 inches FL  11 inches FL  12 inches FL CARRIBEAN FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

4. Estimated Percent Reductions Alternative Minimum Size Limit St. CroixSt. Thomas/St. JohnPuerto Rico (inches FL)% Reduction* b9 5.81.617.7 c10 18.112.839.4 d11 43.144.767.7 e12 73.879.091.2 * Based on 2008 – 2010 Commercial TIP data CARRIBEAN FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

5. Background  Multiple species comprise the parrotfish management unit in the U.S. Caribbean, and together they represent an ecologically, culturally, and economically important group, particularly in the USVI.  Recreational bag limits for the parrotfish unit were addressed in the 2010 Caribbean ACL Amendment.  Minimum size limits are designed to ensure that individual parrotfish have an opportunity to mature and spawn at least one time before being harvested.  If females (males) are harvested before they have a chance to reproduce, egg (sperm) production will be reduced. CARRIBEAN FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

6. Atlantic Cod EFH EggsLarvaeJuvenilesAdults Life History Summary SpeciesDepths Maximum Size Total Length (TL) Estimated Size at Maturity (TL, unless specified) Natural Mortality Rate Midnight parrotfish, Scarus coelestinus 5-75 m (16-246 ft) 77 cm (30.3 in) (male) Unknown Blue parrotfish, Scarus coeruleus 3-25 m (10-82 ft) 120 cm (47.2 in) 62.9 cm (24.8 in) 0.43 Rainbow parrotfish, Scarus guacamaia 3-25 m (10-82 ft) 120 cm (47.2 in) (male) 62.9 cm (24.8 in) 0.43 Striped parrotfish, Scarus iseri 3-25 m (10-82 ft) 35 cm (13.8 in) (male) 21.2 cm (8.3 in) 0.61 Princess parrotfish, Scarus taeniopterus 2-25 m (6.6-82 ft) 35 cm (13.8 in) (male) 21.2 cm (8.3 in) 0.88 Queen parrotfish, Scarus vetula 3-25 m (10-82 ft) 61 cm (24 in) (male) 30.6 cm (12 in) 1.05 Redband parrotfish, Sparisoma aurofrenatum 2-20 m (6.6-65.6 ft) 28 cm (11 in) (male) 17.4 cm (6.9 in) 1.14 Redtail parrotfish, Sparisoma chrysopterum 15 m (49.2 ft) 46 cm (18.8 in) (male) 23.9 cm (9.4 in) FL Unknown Redfin parrotfish, Sparisoma rubripinne 15 m (49.2 ft) 47.8 cm (18.8 in) (male) 28.3 cm (11.1 in) 1.05 Stoplight parrotfish, Sparisoma viride 3-49 m (9.8-160.8 ft) 64 cm (25.2 in) (male) 36.1 cm (14.2 in) 0.66