Robert S. Mathes, commissioner of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, informs the public of the seasonal closure of the mutton snapper (aka, virgin snapper) spawning aggregation area off the southwest coast of St. Croix. In order to reduce fishing efforts and to prevent overfishing of this species during peak reproductive months, no harvest of any species is permitted within the Mutton Snapper Spawning Area from March 1 to June 30 each year.
The seasonal area closure is partly in territorial waters and partly in federal waters; it is a joint territorial and federal closure (50 CFR 629.21 & 24). The area is located between Long Point and the southwest tip of Sandy Point about two miles offshore and is 2.5 miles long and one mile in width. A general location map and coordinates for the exact location of the seasonal area closure are provided in Appendix 5, page 36 of the U.S.V.I. Commercial and Recreational Fisher’s Information Booklet. Fishing with pots, traps, bottom longlines and nets is prohibited year-round in this area.
DPNR asks everyone’s cooperation in order to protect V.I. resources for the present and future benefit of the people of the Virgin Islands.
For additional information on mutton snapper or other fisheries’ regulations, contact the Division of Fish and Wildlife at 772-1955 on St. Croix and 775-6762 on St. Thomas.
