DPNR Announces Seasonal Closure of Fishing of Certain Species

United States Division of Fish and Wildlife

No harvest or possession of vermilion, black, silk or blackfin snapper is permitted from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 in the St. Thomas-St. John District. St. Croix is exempt from the annual seasonal closure for these species in territorial waters, according to a press release issued Tuesday by the V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources.

In addition, DPNR Commissioner Jean-Pierre Oriol has announced that the harvest of whelk and cittarium pica is open within the entire territory from Oct. 1, 2019 until March 31, 2020. Whelk must be landed whole and must be greater than 2 7/16 inches in diameter.

The commissioner asks for everyone’s cooperation to protect Virgin Islands resources for the present and future benefit of the people of the territory.

For more information about snapper or other fisheries regulations, contact the Division of Fish and Wildlife at 773-1082 on St. Croix or 775-6762 on St. Thomas; contact the Division of Environmental Enforcement at 773-5774 on St. Croix or 774-3320 on St. Thomas.