The goal of the scoping meetings was to allow the public to comment on the options considered and to provide alternative options not yet considered by the Council and NMFS.

The dates and locations for the scoping meetings were the following: Puerto Rico: March 11, 2015 Hotel Verdanza, Tartak St. Isla Verde, Puerto Rico March 25, 2015 Mayagüez Holiday Inn 2701 Hostos Avenue Mayagüez, Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands: March 16, 2015 The Buccaneer Hotel St. Croix, U.S.V.I. March 18, 2015 Windward Passage Holiday Inn Hotel, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.

Some of the needs and issues that a permitting system could address in the EEZ 1.Provide accurate and timely data on landings 2.Allow estimation of catch per unit of fishing effort 3.Identify spatial and temporal trends in effort, including the relative importance of fishing to individual communities 4.Manage competing interests for the resources 5.Identify trends in the health of targeted fish stocks 6.Quantify the socioeconomic importance of permitted fishing sectors and mitigate negative impacts of management to fishing communities. 7.Provide permitted fishers with a better understanding of their fishery and the opportunities and implications of management to that fishery.

There are many aspects to implementing fishing permits in the U.S. Caribbean exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and many options regarding the design of a permit system. Options for developing and designing a permit system include, but are not limited to:

OPTIONS 1.Require commercial fishers to obtain a federal permit to fish in the U.S. Caribbean EEZ; 2.Require commercial fishers to obtain a commercial fishing license from either Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) to fish in the U.S. Caribbean EEZ; 3.Require commercial fishers to obtain a federal permit OR a commercial fishing license from either Puerto Rico or the USVI to fish in the U.S. Caribbean EEZ; 4. Require a species/species group/fishery-specific permit in the U.S. Caribbean EEZ; 5.Require a gear-specific permit in the U.S. Caribbean EEZ; 6.Require a dealer permit to purchase fish harvested from the U.S. Caribbean EEZ; 7.Conduct a pilot study with some or all fishers from some or all island groups to evaluate the practicality of permits in the U.S. Caribbean EEZ.

Recommendations – San Juan (40) Federal and State permits should be validated in each jurisdiction Allow holders of federal permits to transit through state waters (i.e., queen snapper issue) Federal permits should require a local fishing license Federal permits completely separate from DNER Federal permits should be available locally No charge for federal permits

Recommendations – Mayagüez (40) Federal and State permits should be validated in each jurisdiction Allow holders of federal permits to transit through state waters (i.e., queen snapper issue) Federal permits completely separate from DNER Federal permits should be affordable Suggested another option (option 8) that the federal permit will be valid for both, state and federal waters around Puerto Rico. This could eliminate the one issued in Puerto Rico by DPNR, and make the federal process to obtain the permit be faster and fair than the one from DPNR

Recommendations – USVI Need to do a pilot study to see what is needed and what they want regarding this permit Federal and State permits should be validated in each jurisdiction We need something in place. I don’t want to see a fisher from the further keys come here and throw lobster traps between my lobster traps Federal permits should require a local fishing license

Comments Puerto Rico, – Scoping meeting for federal permit San Juan PR march 11, 2015.docx Scoping meeting for federal permit San Juan PR march 11, 2015.docx – Scoping meeting for federal permit Mayaguez PR march 25, 2015.docx Scoping meeting for federal permit Mayaguez PR march 25, 2015.docx St. Thomas/St. John – FEDERAL PERMITS SCOPING MEETING STT docx FEDERAL PERMITS SCOPING MEETING STT docx St. Croix