Federal

NOAA Proposes Allowing USVI Commercial Fishermen to Spearfish and Sell Yellowfin Tuna

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is proposing a significant expansion of fishing options available to qualifying commercial fishermen in the U.S. Virgin Islands, including allowing them to use spearguns to harvest and sell four species of tuna, retain certain sharks caught on buoy gear, and use powered equipment to deploy and retrieve that gear. NOAA Fisheries is holding its first public hearing on the proposed regulations today, August 31, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Virgin Islands time. A second hearing is scheduled for October 1, while written comments will be accepted through October 13. At the center of the proposed changes for the territory is NOAA's Highly Migratory Species Commercial Caribbean Small Boat permit, a federal permit specifically designed for fishing in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Holders of the permit are already authorized to commercially fish for and sell bigeye, albacore, yellowfin and skipjack tuna — collectively referred to by feder...