Caribbean Fishery Bulletin Bringing Fishing News to You
FB26-001 FISHERY BULLETIN ISSUE DATE: January 30, 2026 CONTACT: Sarah Stephenson, 727-824-5305, sarah.stephenson@noaa.gov
Reminder of Seasonal Fishing Closure for Certain Groupers in Federal Waters around Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and St. John, and St. Croix, and Seasonal Closure of Grammanik Bank off St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands What/When: Seasonal Fishing Closure for Grouper The seasonal closure of fishing for or possession of red, black, tiger, yellowfin, and yellowedge* grouper in federal waters around Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and St. John, and St. Croix begins on February 1, 2026, and extends through April 30, 2026. •
The prohibition on possession does not apply to such grouper harvested and landed on shore prior to the closure.
*This seasonal closure does not apply to yellowedge grouper in St. Croix because the species is no longer managed by the Caribbean Fishery Management Council in federal waters off St. Croix. Seasonal Closure of Grammanik Bank, U.S. Virgin Islands The seasonal closure of fishing for or possession of any fish species, except highly migratory species, in the Grammanik Bank area off St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (Figure 1) begins on February 1, 2026, and extends through April 30, 2026. •
The term “fish” means finfish, molluscs, crustaceans, and all other forms of marine animal and plant life other than marine mammals and birds.
The Grammanik Bank area is located south of St. Thomas and bounded by the following coordinates: A B C D
18°11.898' N 18°11.645' N 18°11.058' N 18°11.311' N
64°56.328' W 64°56.225' W 64°57.810' W 64°57.913' W