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DPNR updates senators on fish landings, lobster concerns and invasive‑species response
Summary
DPNR Division of Fish & Wildlife told the committee that commercial landings remain within federal annual catch limits but nearshore habitat loss and invasive species (notably red‑tailed boas and lionfish) are pressing management challenges; recreational fishing licensing and port sampling were presented as tools to improve data.
Dr. Nicole Angeli, director of the Division of Fish & Wildlife, gave senators a territorywide status report on fisheries and wildlife conservation. She said commercial landings for 2024 totaled roughly 562,000 pounds across the territory, with spiny lobster the top landed species. Angeli said island‑specific differences in species composition reflect bathymetry and gear types: Saint Croix landings depend more on dive methods while Saint Thomas and Saint John have higher trap and commercial trap landings.
Angeli outlined steps to strengthen data collection for both commercial and…
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