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The Department of Planning and Natural Resources has announced that the annual queen conch seasonal closure commences on Tuesday, June 1 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, 2021, through October 31, 2021, D.P.N.R. said. Possession of queen conch is prohibited from June 15, 2021, through October 31, 2021.
The department said 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, 2021, and will remain open until midnight, May 31, 2021, or until the 50,000 lb. quota per district is reached, whichever comes first.
D.P.N.R. Commissioner Jean-Pierre L. Oriol also reminded the public that harvesting and/or possession of Mutton and Lane Snapper are prohibited territory-wide from April 1 to June 30, 2021.
The commissioner asked for everyone’s cooperation to protect Virgin Islands resources for the present and future benefit of the people of the Virgin Islands.
For more information about queen conch or other fishing regulations, contact the Division of Fish and Wildlife at 773-1082 in St. Croix and 775-6762 in St. Thomas or the Division of Environmental Enforcement at 773-5774 in St. Croix and 774-3320 in St. Thomas.
