Funds under this grant award will be used to assess and quantify the tarpon population in the SAN jose and torrecilla lagoons with the aim of identifying critical habitats and fostering…

The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 4 awarded the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources of Puerto Rico $163,106 on February 1, 2026, under the Sport Fish Restoration program (CFDA 15.605) to assess and quantify tarpon populations in the San Jose and Torrecilla Lagoons, identify critical habitats, and foster collaborative research with the recreational fishing community.

The Puerto Rico Tarpon Tagging Program comprises a multi-year study of tarpon movement, habitat use, and abundance across both lagoons. Activities include community-based tagging of tarpon, data analysis, and results dissemination to the recreational fishing community. The project collects pre- and post-dredging baseline data related to the Cano Martin Pena Project. Performance runs from February 1, 2026, through January 31, 2027, in Puerto Rico. Sport Fish Restoration funds support activities designed to restore, conserve, manage, or enhance sport fish populations and public use and benefits from these resources. The program is financed by excise taxes on motorboat fuel, electric motors, and fishing equipment, plus import duties on fishing tackle and yachts, deposited into the Sport Fish Restoration Trust Fund and apportioned annually to eligible State, Commonwealth, and Territorial agencies with lead management responsibility for fish and wildlife resources.

Funds under this grant award will be used to assess and quantify the tarpon population in the SAN jose and torrecilla lagoons with the aim of identifying critical habitats and fostering collaborative research with the recreational fishing community. The puerto rico tarpon tagging program comprises a multi-year study of tarpon movement, habitat use, and abundance in the SAN jose and torrecilla lagoons. The project includes a community-based tagging effort and collects pre and post dredging baseline data related to the cano martin pena project. Activities include tagging tarpon, analyzing data, and sharing results with the recreational fishing community.