Reminder of Seasonal Closure of the Mutton Snapper Spawning Aggregation Area in Federal Waters off St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

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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.
• 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 17°37.8' N 64°53.0' W
B 17°39.0' N 64°53.0' W
C 17°39.0' N 64°50.5' W
D 17°38.1' N 64°50.5' W
E 17°37.8' N 64°52.5' W

Why This Closure Is Happening:

This seasonal area closure protects mutton snapper when they are spawning (reproducing) and are more vulnerable to fishing pressure. The closure also protects the habitat that supports those aggregations.

Sign Up For Text Message Alerts - Find Out About Immediate Openings and Closures

NOAA's Text Message Alert Program allows you to receive important fishery-related alerts via text message. Standard message & data rates may apply. You may opt-out at any time. Text alerts you may receive include immediate fishery openings and closures and any significant changes to fishing regulations that happen quickly.

Sign up for one or more of the fisheries-related alerts below by texting the following to 888777:

• Gulf of America Recreational: Text GULFRECFISH
• Gulf of America Commercial: Text GULFCOMMFISH
• South Atlantic Recreational: Text SATLRECFISH
• South Atlantic Commercial: Text SATLCOMMFISH
• Caribbean: Text CARIBFISH

Quick Glance Contact List for the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office

Other contacts:

Media: Allison Garrett, 727-551-5750
Recreational Fishing Coordinator: Sean Meehan, 727-385-5202