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What/When:
NOAA Fisheries reminds the public of the upcoming and implemented seasonal closure.
1. Seasonal Red Hind Closure
From December 1, 2024, through February 28, 2025, fishing for or possession of red hind grouper in federal waters of Puerto Rico west of 67° 10’ W longitude (see map) is prohibited.
2. Seasonal Fishing Prohibitions in Red Hind Spawning Areas
From December 1, 2024, to February 28, 2025, fishing for any species is prohibited in federal waters of the following red hind spawning aggregation areas:
- Tourmaline Bank off western Puerto Rico (see map, inset A). Regulations only apply to the portion of Tourmaline Bank in federal waters.
- Abrir La Sierra (or buoy 6) off western Puerto Rico, (see map, inset A).
- Lang Bank red hind spawning aggregation area, east of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (see map, inset B).
3. Seasonal Bajo de Sico Area Closure
The seasonal closure in federal waters of the Bajo de Sico area off western Puerto Rico began October 1, 2024, and continues until March 31, 2025. During the closure, fishing for and possession of reef fish managed by the Caribbean Fishery Management Council is prohibited. Anchoring by fishing vessels in this area is prohibited year-round. See Fishery Bulletin FB24-062 for more information.
Table 1. Latitude and longitude points for the red hind closure areas that are represented in the figure above.
| Point | Tourmaline Bank | Abrir La Sierra | Lang Bank | |||
| Latitude | Longitude | Latitude | Longitude | Latitude | Longitude | |
| A | 18°11.2’N | 67°22.4’W | 18°06.5’N | 67°26.9’W | 17°50.2’N | 64°27.9’W |
| B | 18°11.2’N | 67°19.2’W | 18°06.5’N | 67°23.9’W | 17°50.1’N | 64°26.1’W |
| C | 18°08.2’N | 67°19.2’W | 18°03.5’N | 67°23.9’W | 17°49.2’N | 64°25.8’W |
| D | 18°08.2’N | 67°22.4’W | 18°03.5’N | 67°26.9’W | 17°48.6’N | 64°25.8’W |
| E | - | - | - | - | 17°48.1’N | 64°26.1’W |
| F | - | - | - | - | 17°47.5’N | 64°26.9’W |
Why These Closures are Happening:
These seasonal restrictions protect red hind and other large snappers and groupers during their main reproductive season and reduce fishing-related impacts on the essential fish habitat where these species live.
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 Mexico Recreational: Text GULFRECFISH
- Gulf of Mexico 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
NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Recreational Fishing Coordinator: Sean Meehan, 727-385-5202
