Fisheries in the US Caribbean are managed locally and federally. Below, we have included links to local and federal agencies websites in which you can find the regulations for both jurisdictions. 

Federal Fishery Regulations

Code of Federal Regulations 

• (e-CFR) Part 622 - Fisheries of the Caribbean
• (e-CFR) Species Managed by the Caribbean, Gulf and South Atlantic Councils
• (e-CFR) Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures (AMs) for Caribbean EEZ

NOAA Fisheries

• Magnuson-Stevens Act
• NOAA Fisheries Southeast Region
• NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office
• Sustainable Fisheries in the Caribbean
• Southeast Region Annual Catch Limit (ACL) Monitoring
• Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS)
• Office of Protected Resources
• Threatened and Endangered Species List Southeast Region

Local Fishery Regulations

Puerto Rico Area of Jurisdiction

PR Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (PR- DNER)

• Reglamento de Pesca de Puerto Rico - 2010
• Guía de bolsillo de especies marinas (no ornamentales) reglamentadas en aguas estatales y federales

U.S. Virgin Islands Area of Jurisdiction

• Commercial and Recreational Regulations Fisher’s Information Handbook 2024
• USVI Recreational Fishing License

Economic Exclusive Zone (U.S. Caribbean Federal Waters)

Federal waters in Puerto Rico extend seaward from 9 to 200 nautical miles from shore and in the U.S. Virgin Islands, extend seaward from 3 to 200 nautical miles from shore. See the map below that shows the limits of the local and federal jurisdictions. 

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act - 

Public Law 94-265 AN ACT

To provide for the conservation and management of the fisheries, and for other purposes.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS 16 U.S.C. 180299-659 (11) The term "exclusive economic zone" means the zone established by Proclamation Numbered 5030, dated March 10, 1983. For purposes of applying this Act, the inner boundary of that zone is a line coterminous with the seaward boundary of each of the coastal States. More information about US EEZ, taken from US DOD.

Closed Areas

Grammanik Bank, U.S. Virgin Islands

The seasonal closure on fishing for or possession of any fish species, except highly migratory species, in the Grammanik Bank area off St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands begins at 12:01 a.m., local time, on February 1, 2024, and extends through 11:59 p.m., local time, April 30, 2024. The term “fish” means finfish, molluscs, crustaceans, and all other forms of marine animal and plant life other than marine mammals and birds. Fishing with pots, traps, bottom longlines, gillnets or trammel nets is prohibited year-round.

Hind Bank Marine Conservation District

Fishing for any species and anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round.