NOAA’s Sustainable Fisheries Division Caribbean Branch, together with the Caribbean Fishery Management Council, manages fisheries in federal waters of the U.S. Caribbean Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Federal waters begin where Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands jurisdictional waters end and extend up to 200 miles into the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
This summary is intended to provide appropriate information to fishers about regulations and the sustainable use of marine fishery resources in the U.S. Caribbean. This summary is for general information purposes. Fishery Regulations are subject to changes. For more information on fishery regulations consult the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 50 CFR 622.
Federal Waters
- Fishing Seasons and Closures
- No permit or license is required for recreational fishing in federal waters. Anglers are responsible for abiding by all federal and state fishing regulations and obtaining any state license required.
Stay up to date on fishery announcements and closures:
- To receive fishery bulletins via email, please sign up through Constant Contact at http://bit.ly/HQDUEU. The electronic copy of the bulletin will be delivered to you faster than the paper copy, is in color, features informational links, and reduces paper use.
- To receive important fishery related alerts via text message, including immediate fishery openings and closures, and significant changes to fishing regulations that happen quickly, opt-in for one or more of the following groups. Standard message & data rates may apply. You may opt-out at any time.
- Caribbean Fisheries Related Alerts: Text CARIBFISH to 888777
