January 25, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
WHAT/WHEN:
Annual Seasonal Grouper Closure
NOAA Fisheries reminds fishermen and the public of the upcoming seasonal closure on fishing for or possession of red, black, tiger, yellowfin, and yellowedge grouper in U.S. Caribbean federal waters.
- This closure begins at 12:01 a.m., local time, on February 1, 2021, and extends through 11:59 p.m., local time, April 30, 2021.
- This prohibition on possession does not apply to such grouper harvested and landed on shore prior to the closure.
Fishing Prohibitions in Grammanik Bank, U.S. Virgin Islands
NOAA Fisheries reminds fishermen and the public of the upcoming seasonal closure on 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).
- This closure begins at 12:01 a.m., local time, on February 1, 2021, and extends through 11:59 p.m., local time, April 30, 2021.
- 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 18°11.898′ N 64°56.328′ W
B 18°11.645′ N 64°56.225′ W
C 18°11.058′ N 64°57.810′ W
D 18°11.311′ N 64°57.913′ W