The Division of Fish and Wildlife deployed a new fish aggregating device (FAD) in the territory on Tuesday, Feb. 14, according to a press release from the V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR).
FAD T12 was deployed south of St. Thomas, approximately eight miles south of Saba Island. The FAD is a yellow surface buoy that contains a radar reflector and flashing light to facilitate navigation.
The GPS coordinates are as follows:
FAD # — T12
Latitude — 18° 10.206’ N
Longitude – 64° 59.485’ W
Reference — 8 miles south of Saba, St. Thomas
Commissioner Dawn L. Henry reminds boaters that mooring vessels up to the FAD is not permitted because it weakens the buoy components and can cause the FAD to break away.
Deployment of the FAD 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.
For locations of existing FADs or for more information, contact the Division of Fish and Wildlife at 775-6762 on St. Thomas or 773-1082 on St. Croix, or visit the USVI FAD Program Facebook page: U.S. Virgin Islands Fish Aggregating Devices – FADs.