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What/When:
Harvest of spiny lobster (commercial and recreational) in federal waters off Puerto Rico will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 12, 2022, and will re-open at 12:01 a.m., local time, on October 1, 2022.
Federal waters off Puerto Rico begin 9 nautical miles from shore and extend up to 200 nautical miles from shore.
Why This Closure Is Happening:
- For the 2022 fishing season, the 3-year average from the most recent available landings was used in comparison to the annual catch limit for each species or species group.
- Based on the average landings, NOAA Fisheries determined that the annual catch limit for spiny lobster in Puerto Rico was exceeded.
- As a result, an accountability measure is applied that reduces the length of the 2022 fishing season (commercial and recreational) for spiny lobster in federal waters off Puerto Rico. Harvest of this species will close at the date and time specified above.
- This closure is necessary to protect the spiny lobster resource in federal waters off Puerto Rico.
During The Closure:
During the closure, spiny lobster in or from federal waters off Puerto Rico may not be harvested, possessed, purchased, or sold, and the recreational bag and possession limit for spiny lobster in or from federal waters off Puerto Rico is zero.
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
- Any significant changes to fishing regulations that happen quickly
Sign up for one or more of the following groups:
- Gulf of Mexico Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text GULFRECFISH to 888777
- Gulf of Mexico Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text GULFCOMMFISH to 888777
- South Atlantic Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text SATLRECFISH to 888777
- South Atlantic Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text SATLCOMMFISH to 888777
- Caribbean Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text CARIBFISH to 888777
Other contacts:
Media: Allison Garrett, 727-551-5750
