Also, during this time, fishing for any species is prohibited in federal waters for the following red hind spawning aggregation areas:
- Lang Bank red hind spawning aggregation area, east of St. Croix,
- Tourmaline Bank
- Abrir La Sierra Bank
Additionally, fishing for any species and anchoring activities by fishing vessels within the Hind Bank Marine Conservation District (MCD) is prohibited year round:
- Hind Bank MCD, south of St. Thomas
This action complies with regulations implemented under Amendment 3 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands to address required provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and is necessary to protect these resources. The Caribbean Fishery Management Council, in cooperation with NOAA Fisheries, developed the amendment to regulate fishing mortality.
