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The Division of Fish and Wildlife supports the USVI commercial fishery by collecting and analyzing data from commercial fishers, registering commercial fishers annually, conducting quarterly port samples of landings for each licensed commercial fisher, and monitoring fishing efforts to inform best management practices. This work is funded by the Cooperative Statistics Program (CSP) through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Commercial fishing is permitted in Territorial waters (0 – 3 nautical miles from shore) and Federal waters (3-200 nautical miles from shore) with up-to-date and appropriate licenses.
The DFW Commercial Fisher’s Information Handbook provides a summary of regulations regarding fishing in local and federal USVI waters including closed seasons, marine protected areas, and other relevant policies and educational information. You may access the handbook here or stop by one of our offices for a paper copy.
Click here to access the Virgin Islands Code for commercial fishing regulations in Territorial waters.
Click here to access the U.S. Code for Federal Regulations for commercial fishing in Federal waters.
For current and specific regulations, contact the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Regional Office at (727) 834-5305 of the Federal Register.
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/southeast-regional-office
Fishing regulations are subject to change. It is your responsibility to stay familiar with the latest Territorial and Federal regulatory updates and comply with official regulations. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the DFW fisheries team if you have any questions.
Current licenses must be renewed annually, with renewal dependent on compliance with reporting and port sampling requirements. DFW hosts an annual registration event in July. Contact DFW directly to make an appointment for late registration.
In October of 2021, DPNR began accepting applications for a limited number of new commercial fishing licenses. Those who wish to obtain a new commercial fishing license must submit an application and supporting documents to DFW. Application forms can be found here or picked up at any DFW office. Please note that any new licenses are limited entry for the hook and line fishery only. No trap licenses will be granted.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis but must be received by May 1st to be considered for the upcoming fishing year. To learn more about how to apply for a commercial fishing license, please click here.
DFW monitors the USVI commercial fishery through the collection and analysis of commercial catch reports or CCRs. For commercial fishers, CCRs are required for every fishing trip and submitted to DFW monthly. If there was no fishing activity within a calendar month, a single monthly CCR must be received no later than 15 days after the end of the month for which it was prepared (V.I.C., Title 12, Chapter 9A §315). CCR data is entered into a confidential database managed by NOAA. Accurate and honest CCRs are essential to fisheries management while inaccurate or incomplete CCRs provide misleading data that may generate undue concern over a fishery resource. CCRs can be dropped off at the locations listed below, but stay tuned for online reporting – coming soon!
DFW encourages all fishers to comply with CCR requirements to best manage the USVI commercial fishery – thank you! Take a look at the following maps to see where Commercial Catch Report Dropboxes are located in each district:
St. Thomas and St. John:
St. Croix:
In addition to CCRs, active commercial fishers are mandated under the requirements of their commercial fishing license to participate in DFW’s port sampling program. Active fishers are required to complete at least one (1) port sample each quarter, for a total of four (4) port samples per fishing year. Failure to comply may result in the inability to renew your fishing license.
During a port sample, DFW port samplers collect biostatical data (species ID, length, weight, and sex) from an individual fishing trip. Port sampling data is another mechanism for accurately assessing the USVI commercial fishery and informing best management practices. Port samples can be conducted at the dock, fish market, or any DFW office. Please contact DFW to schedule your port sample – thank you!
Stay Tuned! – DFW will be implementing a new and more efficient port sampling program. Stay tuned for more information in the coming months.
DFW Port Sampler, Jan-Alexis Barry and Fisheries Biologist, Maggie Rios, record lobster length during a port sample in Frenchtown
Pursuant to 11 V.I.C. 27 §1404, two Fishery Advisory Committees (FAC), one for St. Croix and one for St. Thomas-St. John were appointed and established by the Commissioner of DPNR. Each committee consists of a maximum of 14 members who represent their representative districts and sectors and serve to provide advice and recommendations on fishery management from across the industry.
Each FAC meets once a month, and the meetings are recorded. If you are interested in accessing a meeting recording please contact us directly to inquire.
Got extra fishing line? Recycle it with us! DFW offers several monofilament line receptacles throughout the Territory to drop off your old fishing line. DFW personnel collects the line from the receptacles and sends it off to our project partners at Berkely Fishing. Recycling fishing line is a great way to avoid it entering U.S. Virgin Islands waters where it can cause significant injury and even death to marine fish, wildlife, and seabirds. We encourage all fishers, recreational and commercial, to recycle their monofilament fishing line with us!
Please visit our Resources page to find all commercial fishing resources.
