ST. THOMAS — Department of Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Dawn Henry announced earlier this week that the department’s Division of Fish and Wildlife has deployed two fish aggregating devices (FADs) around St. Thomas.
The FADs, deployed on Wednesday, are located 11 miles northwest of Cricket Rock and 13 miles north of Outer Brass Island, St. Thomas. Both FAD buoys are submerged about 50 feet below the water’s surface.
D.P.N.R. also has FADs on the south of St. Croix.
According to the release, deployment of the FADs will benefit the territory by shifting fishing pressure from heavily fished inshore areas to offshore areas, with more abundant populations of pelagic sport fish species such as tuna, dolphin, and wahoo. The FAD program will also provide enhanced and improved fishing opportunities to recreational anglers in the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to the release.
The Division of Fish and Wildlife anticipates deploying additional FADs around the territory within the next few months. The GPS coordinates of these FADs will be announced upon deployment.
This project is wholly funded by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Sport Fish Restoration funds. For more information, contact the Division of Fish and Wildlife at (340) 775-6762 on St. Thomas or (340) 773-1082 on St. Croix.
Tags: dpnr, fads, us virgin islands
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