Department of Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Dawn Henry announced on Friday that D.P.N.R.\u2019s Division of Fish and Wildlife (D.F.W.) deployed a total of 2 fish aggregating devices (F.A.D.s) around each district on October 24 and 31 in St. Croix and St. Thomas respectively.<\/p>\n
FAD X22 was deployed around St. Croix approximately 8 miles west of Ham\u2019s Bluff, according to D.P.N.R. \u00a0This buoy replaces a FAD that was previously deployed in the same location, known as \u201cS FAD\u201d. FAD T7 was deployed around St. Thomas approximately 14 miles north of Cricket Rock. Both FADs are surface buoys that contain radar reflectors and flashing lights to facilitate navigation.<\/p>\n
Deployment of the F.A.D.s will benefit the territory by shifting fishing pressure from heavily fished inshore areas to offshore areas with more abundant populations of pelagic sport fish species such as tuna, dolphin, and wahoo, according to D.P.N.R., which made the announcement via press release. The F.A.D. program will also provide enhanced and improved fishing opportunities to recreational anglers in the territory, it added.<\/p>\n
Ms. Henry reminded the fishing community that mooring vessels up to the FADs is not permitted,\u00a0as it weakens the buoy components and can cause the FADs to break away.<\/p>\n
The Division of Fish and Wildlife anticipates deploying additional FADs around the territory within the next few months. The GPS coordinates of these FADs will be announced upon deployment, according to the release.<\/p>\n
This project is completely funded by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Sport Fish Restoration funds.<\/p>\n