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What Is Happening and When:
Annual Seasonal Area Closure
NOAA Fisheries reminds fishermen and the public of the upcoming seasonal closure on fishing for any species in federal waters in the Mutton Snapper Spawning Aggregation Area off St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (Figure 1).
- This closure begins at 12:01 a.m., local time, on March 1, 2023, and extends through 11:59 p.m., local time, June 30, 2023.
Year-Round Fishing Prohibitions
Fishing with pots, traps, bottom longlines, gillnets, or trammel nets is prohibited within federal waters of the mutton snapper spawning aggregation area year-round.
Why This Closure Is Happening:
This seasonal area closure protects mutton snapper when they are spawning (reproducing) and more vulnerable to fishing pressure. The closure also protects the habitat that supports those aggregations.
The Mutton Snapper Spawning Aggregation Area is located off southwest St. Croix and is bounded by lines connecting the following coordinates:
A 17°37.8' N 64°53.0' W
B 17°39.0' N 64°53.0' W
C 17°39.0' N 64°50.5' W
D 17°38.1' N 64°50.5' W
E 17°37.8' N 64°52.5' W
A 17°37.8' N 64°53.0' W
Sign Up For Text Message Alerts - Find Out About Immediate Openings and Closures
NOAA's Text Message Alert Program allows you to receive important fishery related alerts via text message (SMS). Standard message & data rates may apply. You 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
- Text GULFRECFISH to 888777
- Gulf of Mexico Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text GULFCOMMFISH to 888777
- South Atlantic Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text SATLRECFISH to 888777
- South Atlantic Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text SATLCOMMFISH to 888777
- Caribbean Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text CARIBFISH to 888777
Quick Glance Contact List for the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office
Permits Mailbox: The Permits Office in St. Petersburg, Florida now has a Permits mailbox in the front lobby (263 13th Ave. South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701). You can now drop off original permits for permit transfers. Envelopes with information labels will be provided so that your documents can be attached to the correct application. The mailbox will be checked daily. For more information, contact the Permits Office at 877-376-4877.
Other contacts:
Media: Allison Garrett, 727-551-5750
