NOAA Proposes Reclassifying Rainbow Runner as Pelagic Fish in Puerto Rico

The National Marine Fisheries Service is proposing to move the rainbow runner from the “reef fish” category to the “pelagic fish” category under the Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan. This change, known as Amendment 4, updates the classification to match how the species lives and is caught. Rainbow runner are found in open water rather than near the bottom, and the gear used to harvest them aligns with other pelagic species. The regional fishery council and its scientific committee reviewed the data and recommended the reclassification.

Why it matters: This is primarily an administrative adjustment to align management rules with the biology and fishing patterns of the rainbow runner. The total allowable catch remains unchanged, so the proposal does not expand or restrict the overall harvest. It affects fishermen in Federal waters around Puerto Rico who need to follow the correct gear restrictions and seasonal closures, as the specific rules they must avoid will shift from the reef fish list to the pelagic fish list.

Who it affects

• Commercial and recreational fishermen operating in Federal waters around Puerto Rico who target or incidentally catch rainbow runner.

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This notice comes from the National Marine Fisheries Service within the Department of Commerce; read the full proposed rule in the Federal Register before relying on the details for compliance.

Agency: Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Source: Federal Register — read the official document