The Caribbean Fishery Management Council voted Tuesday to designate the U.S. Virgin Islands as “Fishing Communities” under the federal Magnuson Stevens Reauthorization Act, according to the office of Delegate Donna Christensen.

When the council convened its 136th regular meeting this week in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, a motion was made and later approved to designate both St. Croix and St. Thomas as “Fishing Communities.”

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act is the primary law governing marine fisheries management in U.S. federal waters. The act aided in the development of the domestic fishing industry by phasing out foreign fishing.

In a statement, Christensen applauded the decision and said two recent studies by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found the U.S. Virgin Islands showed the qualities of a fishing community and both St. Thomas and St. Croix should be considered for the designation.

“We followed up on those findings and encouraged the Council to discuss the matter,” said Christensen. “I am pleased that the Virgin Islands received the designation and I would like to thank Regional Director Roy Crabtree, the Council and especially the St. Thomas and St. Croix Fishermen’s Associations, who worked hard to make this happen.”

Christensen said the issues facing management of V.I. fisheries—such as implementing annual catch limits, improving data and fisheries research—can best be resolved through active participation by the members of our fishing communities. She said recognition and designation of these communities will be an important step towards those goals.

“We will continue to work toward increased collaboration between the fishing community, the council, local and federal regulators and other stakeholders and to ensure that the council considers this designation when implementing new management actions,” she said.