The U.S. Virgin Islands faces changes to how much spiny lobster commercial and recreational fishers can harvest each year under a proposal from federal fisheries managers.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration wants to lift St. Croix's annual catch ceiling to 176,760 pounds, up from 137,254 pounds. That represents an increase of 39,506 pounds, or 28.8 percent. At the same time, the agency proposes trimming the combined limit for St. Thomas and St. John to 132,964 pounds from 133,207 pounds, a reduction of 243 pounds.
The proposal appeared in the Federal Register on October 16 and follows scientific stock assessments completed in September 2025. Those assessments, which reviewed data through 2023, concluded neither island group's lobster population was overfished or facing overfishing.
The new limits would govern harvesting in federal waters starting three nautical miles offshore. Both commercial and recreational fishers would be affected, with catch measured by whole-lobster weight.
St. Croix would keep a 5 percent safety margin below the scientific recommendation of 186,063 pounds, producing the 176,760-pound ceiling. For St. Thomas and St. John, managers plan to eliminate their existing 5 percent buffer. The scientific recommendation for those islands fell to 132,964 pounds from 140,218 pounds, but removing the buffer means the annual limit drops only slightly, cushioning the economic impact.
Recent harvest patterns suggest the changes will not immediately disrupt fishing operations. St. Croix's commercial fishers landed an average of about 34,000 pounds annually between 2020 and 2024, well below even the old limit. St. Thomas and St. John averaged 109,814 pounds over that span, with 2024 landings reaching 125,177 pounds, leaving room under the new ceiling.
About 30 commercial fishers on St. Croix and 37 on St. Thomas and St. John reported lobster catches during the five-year period. NOAA concluded the proposal would not significantly harm small businesses and would create no new reporting duties.
The public can submit comments until November 16, 2026, through the federal e-rulemaking portal using docket number NOAA-NMFS-2026-2146. Written comments can also be mailed to Maria Lopez-Mercer, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first.