Caribbean Fishery Bulletin Bringing Fishing News to You
FB26-005 FISHERY BULLETIN ISSUE DATE: February 26, 2026 CONTACT: Sarah Stephenson, 727-824-5305, sarah.stephenson@noaa.gov
Reminder of Seasonal Closure of the Mutton Snapper Spawning Aggregation Area in Federal Waters off St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands What Is Happening and When: •
The seasonal closure on fishing for any species in federal waters of the Mutton Snapper Spawning Aggregation Area off St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (Figure 1) begins on March 1, 2026, and extends through June 30, 2026.
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Fishing with pots, traps, bottom longlines, gillnets, or trammel nets is prohibited within federal waters of the Mutton Snapper Spawning Aggregation Area year-round.
The Mutton Snapper Spawning Aggregation Area is located off southwest St. Croix and bounded by the following coordinates: A B C D E
17°37.8' N 17°39.0' N 17°39.0' N 17°38.1' N 17°37.8' N
64°53.0' W 64°53.0' W 64°50.5' W 64°50.5' W 64°52.5' W Figure 1. Map showing the mutton snapper spawning aggregation area (rectangle A, B, C, D, E) off St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.