Seasonal Prohibition on Fishing for or Possessing Caribbean Council-Managed Reef Fish in Federal Waters of the Bajo de Sico Management Area

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What Is Happening and When:

NOAA Fisheries reminds fishermen and the public of the annually recurring seasonal prohibition on fishing for or possessing any reef fish managed by the Caribbean Fishery Management Council (Council) in or from those parts of the Bajo de Sico management area that are in federal waters.

• This closure begins on October 1, 2025, and extends through March 31, 2026.
• During the closure, no person may fish for or possess any Council-managed reef fish in or from those parts of the Bajo de Sico management area off Puerto Rico that are in federal waters.
• These regulations only apply in the federal portion of the Bajo de Sico management area located off the west coast of Puerto Rico (Figure 1), which is bisected by the nine nautical mile boundary between Puerto Rico Commonwealth and federal waters.

Why This Closure Is Happening:

This seasonal closure protects species when they are spawning (reproducing) and therefore more vulnerable to fishing pressure. Bajo de Sico is a known spawning aggregation area for reef fish.

During The Closure:

• Fishing and possession prohibitions apply to Council-managed reef fish in or from those parts of the Bajo de Sico management area that are in federal waters.
• Fishermen are allowed to harvest spiny lobster, Council-managed pelagic fish, and species not managed by the Council, including highly migratory species.
• Fishing with pots, traps, bottom longlines, gillnets, or trammel nets and anchoring are prohibited year-round in Bajo de Sico federal waters and remain prohibited during the seasonal closure.

For a complete list of Council-managed reef fish, please see Table 3 to Part 622.431 .

For a complete list of Council-managed pelagic fish, please see Table 1 to Part 622.431 .

For a complete list of highly migratory species, please see Appendix A to Part 635 .

The Bajo de Sico management area is located off the west coast of Puerto Rico and bounded by the following coordinates:

A 18° 15.7' N 67° 26.4' W

B 18° 15.7' N 67° 23.2' W

C 18° 12.7' N 67° 23.2' W

D 18° 12.7' N 67° 26.4' W

Figure 1. Map showing the Bajo de Sico management area (shaded) off the west coast of Puerto Rico.

Sign Up For Text Message Alerts - Find Out About Immediate Openings and Closures

NOAA's Text Message Alert Program allows you to receive important fishery-related alerts via text message. Standard message & data rates may apply. You may opt-out at any time. Text alerts you may receive include immediate fishery openings and closures and any significant changes to fishing regulations that happen quickly.

Sign up for one or more of the fisheries-related alerts below by texting the following to 888777:

• Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico) Recreational: Text GULFRECFISH
• Gulf of America Commercial: Text GULFCOMMFISH
• South Atlantic Recreational: Text SATLRECFISH
• South Atlantic Commercial: Text SATLCOMMFISH
• Caribbean: Text CARIBFISH

Quick Glance Contact List for the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office

Other contacts:

Media: Allison Garrett, 727-551-5750

NOAA Fisheries' Southeast Recreational Fishing Coordinator: Sean Meehan, 727-385-5202