What Is Happening and When:
Annual Seasonal Area Closure
NOAA Fisheries reminds fishermen and the public of the upcoming seasonal closure on fishing for any species in federal waters in the Mutton Snapper Spawning Aggregation Area off St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (Figure 1).
- This closure begins at 12:01 a.m., local time, on March 1, 2023, and extends through 11:59 p.m., local time, June 30, 2023.
Fishing with pots, traps, bottom longlines, gillnets, or trammel nets is prohibited within federal waters of the mutton snapper spawning aggregation area year-round.
Why This Closure Is Happening:
This seasonal area closure protects mutton snapper when they are spawning (reproducing) and more vulnerable to fishing pressure. The closure also protects the habitat that supports those aggregations.
The Mutton Snapper Spawning Aggregation Area is located off southwest St. Croix and is bounded by lines connecting the following coordinates:
A 17°37.8' N 64°53.0' W
B 17°39.0' N 64°53.0' W
C 17°39.0' N 64°50.5' W
D 17°38.1' N 64°50.5' W
E 17°37.8' N 64°52.5' W
A 17°37.8' N 64°53.0' W
Sign Up For Text Message Alerts - Find Out About Immediate Openings and Closures
NOAA's Text Message Alert Program allows you to receive important fishery related alerts via text message (SMS). Standard message & data rates may apply. You may opt-out at any time.
Text alerts you may receive include:
- Immediate fishery openings and closures
- Any significant changes to fishing regulations that happen quickly
Original source can be found here.
