The Department of Planning and Natural Resources on Thursday announced the deployment of new fish aggregating devices (FAD).
The were deployed on Thursday, August 27th in the St. Thomas-St. John district and in St. Croix on Friday August 28.
Deployment of the FADs benefits the USVI by shifting fishing pressure from heavily fished inshore areas to offshore areas with more abundant populations of pelagic sportfish species such as tuna, dolphin, and wahoo, said D.P.N.R. The FAD program will also provide enhanced and improved fishing opportunities to recreational anglers in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The FADs were constructed with federal U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Sportfish Restoration program funding and generously deployed by Limetree Bay Terminals, LLC, staged by Virgin Islands Port Authority, and transported by Franklin Benjamin.
- FAD T7 was deployed north of St. Thomas, approximately 15 miles north of Cricket Rock.
- FAD T8 was deployed north of St. Thomas, approximately 16 miles north of Outer Brass.
- FAD S was deployed west of St. Croix, approximately 8 miles west of Ham’s Bluff.
All FADs deployed are a yellow surface buoy that contains a radar reflector and flashing light to facilitate navigation, said the department. D.P.N.R. Commissioner Jean-Pierre Oriol reminded boaters that mooring vessels to the FADs is not permitted, as it weakens the buoy components and can cause the FADs to break away.
For more information call 340-773-1082.
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