July 29, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
What/When:
Harvest of spiny lobster (commercial and recreational) in federal waters off Puerto Rico will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 22, 2021, and will re-open at 12:01 a.m., local time, on October 1, 2021.
Why This Closure Is Happening:
- The annual catch limit for spiny lobster in Puerto Rico is 327,920 pounds. Based on the average of the three most recent years of available landings, from the 2017-2019 fishing years, NOAA Fisheries determined that the annual catch limit for spiny lobster was exceeded.
- As a result, an accountability measure is applied, reducing the length of the 2021 fishing season for spiny lobster in federal waters of Puerto Rico. Harvest of this species will close at the date and time specified above.
- This closure is necessary to protect the spiny lobster resource in federal waters off Puerto Rico.
During The Closure:
During the closure, spiny lobster in or from federal waters off Puerto Rico may not be harvested, possessed, purchased, or sold, and the recreational bag and possession limit for spiny lobster in or from federal waters off Puerto Rico is zero.