NOAA Proposal May Open Virgin Islands Tuna Spearfishing To Commerical Fishers

NOAA Fisheries held a public hearing on Tuesday on a proposed rule allowing fishermen in the US Virgin Islands to use spearguns commercially to catch and sell tuna. These fishers hold the Highly Migratory Species Commercial Caribbean Small Boat permits. The expansion of fishing options has been made available to fishers catching yellowfin, albacore, bigeye, and skipjack in the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean. However, the proposed speargun fishing would be subject to size and retention limits including requiring mariners to be in the water when firing a speargun, using freediving, scuba, or other breathing devices. Only free-swimming tuna can be taken and the fish can not first be restrained on a line, according to news site The Virgin Islands Consortium.

A second hearing on the topic is scheduled for October 1, while written comments will be accepted through October 13. Speargun fishing for tuna already exists in the Virgin Islands as a recreational activity.