Comprehensive Census of the Marine Commercial Fishery of Puerto Rico, 2008

Puerto Rico’s Law 278 of November 29 th , 1998, also knows as Puerto Rico’s Fishing Law, define that a full time commercial fisher is a person that receive 50% or a higher income from the fishing activity. A part-time commercial fisher (CF) receives less than 50% of their income from the fishing activity. The Regulation 6768, knows as Puerto Rico’s Fishing Regulation, established that a part time CF has a minimum of 20% of the total income must be produce by his fishing activity. The mentioned definitions required that the CF must submit their IRS documents to receive a commercial fisher license. Most CF did not like to reports their income to the IRS because they belief that they are poor, thus they do not have the income to contribute to the local government. During 2004-07, the DNER Commercial Fisheries Statistics Program (CFSP) observed that many CF left the fishing activity. Also they observed that many CF were active but they did not obtained the commercial fishing license. The mentioned facts conclude the necessity to realize this fishing census. During January-November 2008, the CFSP personnel realized a fishing census at the 42 coastal Puerto Rico’s municipalities. The census goals were: obtain data to determine the total number of active CF, socioeconomic information, number and length of active commercial vessels, number of motors and the motor’s horsepower and determine the number and type of active gears. All goals were reached and results and discussed in this paper.