April 9, 2009 – The conch harvest on St. Croix has exceeded the 50,000-pound annual quota established by regulation (Title 12 Chapter 9A, Subchapter 304 and 306) effective July 1, according to a press release from the Department of Planning and Natural Resources.
In order to eliminate overfishing of conch resources and to avoid a collapse of the resource, the conch season on St. Croix will be closed on April 30, and remain closed until Nov. 1, 2009. Possession of queen conch during the closed season is prohibited.
Conch harvest on St. Thomas/St. John will remain open until June 1, or until the 50,000-pound quota is reached, whichever comes first.
DPNR asks everyone's cooperation in order to protect resources for the present and future benefit of the people of the Virgin Islands.
For more information on queen conch or other fisheries regulations, contact the Division of Environmental Enforcement at 773-5774 on St. Croix and 774-3320 on St. Thomas.