Para enmendar el Artículo 2 de la Ley Núm. 278 de 29 de noviembre de 1998, según enmendada, conocida como la "Ley de Pesquerías de Puerto Rico", a los fines de añadir nuevos incisos (u), (v), (w) y (x) que definan términos relacionados con el Registro Unificado de Pescadores; añadir un nuevo Artículo 9A que cree el Registro Unificado de Pescadores en Puerto Rico, integrando a todos los pescadores comerciales, recreativos y de subsistencia, estableciendo requisitos de inscripción obligatoria, administración por el Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales (DRNA), fines de conservación, recopilación de estadísticas pesqueras, seguridad y manejo sostenible de los recursos marinos; enmendar el Artículo 4 del Reglamento de Pesca de Puerto Rico (Reglamento Núm. 7949 de 2010) para añadir nuevos incisos 4.95, 4.96, 4.97 y 4.98 que definan términos relacionados; y para otros fines relacionados.

2025-2028 Session

Puerto Rico's new unified fisheries registry mandates all commercial, recreational, and subsistence fishers register with DRNA to improve conservation, safety, and marine resource management through centralized data collection and enforcement.

Referido a Comisión(es)

Legislative bill overview

Bill PS 952 amends Puerto Rico's Fisheries Law to create a Unified Fisheries Registry that would consolidate all commercial, recreational, and subsistence fishers under mandatory registration with the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA). The bill adds definitional terms and establishes administrative procedures, data collection requirements, and conservation standards for sustainable marine resource management.

Why is this important

This legislation addresses fragmented fisher oversight by creating a centralized database to track fishing activities, enforce conservation measures, and collect statistical data for policy decisions. Mandatory registration could improve enforcement of existing regulations, reduce illegal fishing, and enable better-informed marine resource management across Puerto Rico's fishing sectors.

Potential points of contention

Compliance burden: Mandatory registration may increase administrative costs and barriers for small-scale subsistence and recreational fishers, potentially limiting access to traditional fishing practices

Data privacy concerns: Centralized registry of all fishers could raise questions about personal information protection and government surveillance of fishing locations and practices

Enforcement capacity: Success depends on DRNA's ability to manage the registry and conduct meaningful enforcement; insufficient funding or staffing could render the system ineffective

Differentiated impacts: One-size-fits-all registration requirements may not account for distinct needs of commercial versus subsistence fishing communities