NOAA Fisheries is proposing new annual catch limits for spiny lobster harvested in federal waters around the U.S. Virgin Islands. The rule is open for public comment through November 16 and has not taken effect.
For St. Croix, the proposal would increase the annual catch limit from 137,254 pounds to 176,760 pounds, a 28.8% increase. For the St. Thomas–St. John district, it would reduce the limit from 133,207 pounds to 132,964 pounds, a decrease of 243 pounds, or about 0.18%.
The limits would cover combined commercial and recreational harvest in federal waters beginning three nautical miles from shore. NOAA based the proposal on the 2025 SEDAR 91 stock assessments and says the changes are intended to prevent overfishing while allowing optimum yield.
Recent landings have remained below the proposed limits, and NOAA's analysis does not anticipate a significant economic effect on small fishing businesses. The agency will review comments before deciding whether to issue a final rule.
NOAA and DPNR should publish a district-by-district explainer showing the stock-assessment inputs, recent landings and how commercial and recreational catch will be monitored under any final rule.
Source published October 16, 2026; publication time not displayed. Read the original reporting or release for the complete record.
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