Department of Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Dawn Henry announced last week that the annual queen conch seasonal closure commenced on June 1, 2016, for both the St. Croix and St. Thomas/St. John Districts, as established by regulation effective July 1, 2008.
Harvesting of queen conch is prohibited from June 1, 2016 through October 31, 2016. Possession of queen conch is prohibited from June 15, 2016, through October 31, 2016.
Seasonal harvest closures conserve fished populations and help sustain and improve the fisheries of the Virgin Islands. The conch season will reopen on November 1, 2016, and will remain open until midnight, May 31, 2017, or until the 50,000 lb. quota per district is reached, whichever comes first, according to the release.
Ms. Henry also advised that harvesting and/or possession of Mutton and Lane Snapper are prohibited territory-wide from April 1 to June 30.
The fishing community is also reminded of the re-opening of fishing for Red Grouper,
Black Grouper, Tiger Grouper, Yellowfin Grouper, and Yellowedge Grouper on May 1, 2016.
The commissioner is asking for everyone’s cooperation to protect Virgin Islands resources for the present and future benefit of the people of the Virgin Islands, according to the release.
For more information about queen conch or other fishing regulations, please contact the Division of Fish and Wildlife at 773-1082 in St. Croix and 775-6762 in St. Thomas.
Tags: cannabis us virgin islands, conch season, us virgin islands
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