CHRISTIANSTED — The Department of Planning and Natural Resources announces that the annual queen conch seasonal closure commences on June 1, 2019, for both the St. Croix and St. Thomas/St. John Districts, as established by regulation effective July 1, 2008.
Harvesting of queen conch is prohibited from June 1 through October 31, DPNR said in a prepared statement. Possession of queen conch is prohibited from June 15 until October 31.
“Seasonal harvest closures conserve fished populations and help sustain and improve the fisheries of the Virgin Islands,” DPNR Commissioner designee Jean-Pierre Oriol said.
The conch season will reopen on November 1, 2019, and will remain open until midnight, May 31, 2020, or until the 50,000-pound. quota per district is reached, whichever comes first.
Oriol also said that harvesting and/or possession of mutton and lane snapper are prohibited territory-wide from April 1 to June 30.
DPNR asks for everyone’s cooperation to protect Virgin Islands resources for the present and future benefit of the people of the Virgin Islands.
For more information about queen conch or other fishing regulations, please contact the Division of Fish and Wildlife at (340) 773-1082 in St. Croix and (340) 775-6762 in St. Thomas or the Division of Environmental Enforcement at (340) 773-5774 in St. Croix and (340) 774-3320 in St. Thomas.