Dolphinfish and Wahoo Get New Catch Rules in Caribbean Waters
Published Date: 6/25/2025
Rule
Summary
Fishermen and fish lovers in Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas and St. John will see new rules for catching dolphinfish and wahoo. These rules set minimum sizes and limits on how many fish you can keep, helping fish grow up and stay healthy. The changes start soon and aim to protect fish for the future without hurting your fishing fun.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Commercial minimum size limits
If you fish dolphinfish or wahoo commercially in U.S. Caribbean Federal waters (Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John), new minimum size limits now apply to your catch. These rules change what sizes of dolphinfish and wahoo commercial operations are allowed to keep.
Protecting dolphinfish and wahoo
The rule aims to ensure dolphinfish and wahoo have enough time to mature and reproduce and to help protect against overfishing in U.S. Caribbean Federal waters. These conservation measures are intended to support future availability of these species.
Recreational bag and size limits
If you fish for dolphinfish or wahoo recreationally in U.S. Caribbean Federal waters (Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John), new minimum size limits and recreational bag and possession limits apply to your catch. The rules set how many fish you can keep and the minimum size they must be.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-14204, Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary; Delay of Effective Date
NOAA is giving everyone more time before the rule that bans grappling or anchoring on Lake Ontario shipwrecks kicks in. Instead of starting in July 2026, this rule is now delayed until September 2028 to let NOAA set up mooring buoys and work with divers and boaters. This means boaters and commercial vessels can keep anchoring safely while NOAA gets everything ready without rushing.
2026-14195, Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are wiping away the official definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act starting September 14, 2026. This change affects anyone involved in protecting endangered plants and animals by shifting how “harm” is understood and enforced. It’s a big move that could change how projects and protections are handled, but no new costs or deadlines are added right now.
2026-05599, Deep Seabed Mining: Notice of Receipt of Applications for Deep Seabed Mining Exploration Licenses and Announcement of Public Comment Period and Virtual Public Hearings
NOAA got two applications from companies wanting to explore mining deep under the ocean floor. They’re holding virtual public meetings in April and want your thoughts by May 22, 2026. This affects anyone interested in ocean mining and how we protect our seas while exploring new resources.
2026-04256, Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Spatial Fisheries Management; Amendment 15 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan
Starting April 3, 2026, new rules change shark fishing zones and times in the Atlantic to better protect sharks and manage fishing risks. Fishermen using bottom and pelagic longline gear will see updated area boundaries and must pay for electronic monitoring if fishing in certain safer zones. These changes help keep shark populations healthy while supporting responsible fishing.
2026-16756, Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Analysis Assessing Potential Modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan To Reduce Mortality and Serious Injury of Large Whales in Commercial Trap/Pot and Gillnet Fisheries Along the U.S. East Coast
NMFS intends to prepare an environmental analysis in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to analyze the impacts of alternatives to amend the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (Plan) if determined to be necessary to reduce mortalities and serious injuries of North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) and other large whales caused by entanglement in commercial trap/pot and gillnet fisheries along the U.S. East Coast. This notice of intent informs the public of an upcoming scoping period to solicit input on potential efforts to reduce the risk of entanglement to right, humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae), and fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in U.S. East Coast commercial trap/pot and gillnet fishing gear while stabilizing the economic viability of the U.S. commercial fishing industry, protecting coastal community heritage, and minimizing regulatory burdens to meet statutory requirements under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and other laws as well as administration priorities. A complete list of fisheries regulated by the Plan is included below. This Notice of Intent (NOI) initiates the scoping process, an early and open step designed to determine the scope of issues to be addressed in depth within the environmental analysis. This document is not a notice of proposed rulemaking.
2026-16758, Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Ferndale Pier Maintenance Activities in Ferndale, Washington
In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued a renewal incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Petrogas Pacific, LLC (Petrogas) to harass marine mammals incidental to Ferndale Pier Maintenance Activities in Ferndale, Washington.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-11713, Fisheries Off West Coast States; West Coast Salmon Fisheries; 2025 Specifications and Management Measures; Correction
Fishermen off Washington, Oregon, and California get a quick fix for the 2025 salmon season rules after a small mistake was found. The correction adds missing info for commercial salmon fishing between Humbug Mountain, Oregon, and the U.S.-Mexico border, keeping everything clear and fair. This update keeps the season on track from May 16, 2025, to May 15, 2026, with no extra costs or delays.
Next: C2-2025-08928, Estate Tax Closing Letter User Fee Update
The IRS fixed some math errors in their Estate Tax Closing Letter user fee update, making sure the costs are clear and accurate. This affects anyone paying fees for estate tax closing letters, with corrected numbers showing the real costs starting now. No new fees, just clearer, correct prices to keep things fair and transparent.