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HomeNewsLocal governmentNOAA Informs Public of Seasonal Caribbean Fishery Bulletin Dates and Locations

NOAA Informs Public of Seasonal Caribbean Fishery Bulletin Dates and Locations

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – Caribbean Fishery Bulletin reminds the public of seasonal fishing restrictions in U.S. Caribbean federal waters which will begin at 12:01 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 1.

What/When:

1) Seasonal Red Hind Closure

NOAA Fisheries reminds fishermen and the public of the annual seasonal closure on fishing for, or possession of, red hind grouper in federal waters of Puerto Rico west of 67° 10’ W longitude

  • The closure begins at 12:01 a.m., local time, on December 1, and extends through 11:59 p.m.,

local time, Feb. 28, 2023.

2) Seasonal Fishing Prohibitions in Red Hind Spawning Areas

From Dec. 1 through the last day of February, each year, fishing for any species is prohibited in federal waters of the following red hind spawning aggregation areas:

  • The Tourmaline Bank area closure off western Puerto Rico. Regulations only apply to the portion of Tourmaline Bank in federal waters.
  • The Abrir La Sierra Bank area closure off western Puerto Rico, which lies completely within federal waters
  • The Lang Bank red hind spawning aggregation area, east of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

3) Annual Fishing and Anchoring Prohibitions within Hind Bank

NOAA Fisheries also reminds the public that fishing for any species and anchoring by fishing vessels within the Hind Bank Marine Conservation District, south of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, is prohibited year-round (see map, inset C).

Figure 1. Map showing the seasonal area closures in the U.S. Caribbean.

See table below for coordinates bounding the seasonal and area closures.

Latitude and longitude for closure areas

Tourmaline Bank

Latitude Longitude

18°11.2’N 67°22.4’W

B 18°11.2’N 67°19.2’W

C 18°08.2’N 67°19.2’W

D 18°08.2’N 67°22.4’W 18°03.5’N 67°26.9’W

Abrir La Sierra Bank

Latitude Longitude

A 18°06.5’N 67°26.9’W

B 18°06.5’N 67°23.9’W

C 18°03.5’N 67°23.9’W

D 18°03.5’N 67°26.9’W

Lang Bank

Latitude Longitude

A 17°50.2’N 64°27.9’W

B 17°50.1’N 64°26.1’W

C 17°49.2’N 64°25.8’W

D 17°48.6’N 64°25.8’W

E 17°48.1’N 64°26.1’W

F 17°47.5’N 64°26.9’W

Hind Bank

Latitude Longitude

A 18°13.2’N 65°06.0’W

B 18°13.2’N 64°59.0’W

C 18°11.8’N 64°59.0’W

D 18°10.7’N 65°06.0’W

 

4) Seasonal Bajo de Sico Area Closure

The seasonal closure in federal waters of the Bajo de Sico area off western Puerto Rico, which began Oct. 1, 2022, continues until March 31, 2023. During the closure, fishing for and possession of reef fish managed by the Caribbean Fishery Management Council is prohibited. Anchoring by fishing vessels is prohibited year-round. (See Fishery Bulletin FB22-060 for more information).

Why These Closures are Happening:

These restrictions were developed to provide further protection for red hind spawning aggregations and large snappers and groupers, and to better protect the essential fish habitat where these species reside.

Sign Up for Text Message Alerts – Find Out About Immediate Openings and Closures

NOAA’s Text Message Alert Program allows individuals to receive important fishery related alerts via text message (SMS).

Standard message and data rates may apply. A person may opt-out at any time.

Text alerts you may receive include:

  • Immediate fishery openings and closures
  • Any significant changes to fishing regulations that happen quickly

Sign up for one or more of the following groups:

  • Gulf of Mexico Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts

o Text GULFRECFISH to 888777

  • Gulf of Mexico Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts

o Text GULFCOMMFISH to 888777

  • South Atlantic Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts

o Text SATLRECFISH to 888777

  • South Atlantic Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts

o Text SATLCOMMFISH to 888777

  • Caribbean Fisheries Related Alerts

o Text CARIBFISH to 888777

Other contacts:

Media: Allison Garrett, 727-551-5750

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