St. Thomas Fisherman's Association

Thomas Fisherman’s Association:
In January of 2005, the Caribbean Fisheries Management Council (CFMC) Sustainable Fisheries Act Amendment, proposed management measures which included closure of 240 square kilometers (93 square miles) of Virgin Islands shelf to fishing and seasonal closures for several species. The STFA was started to oppose these measures, which its members felt were unjustified o

n the basis of the state of Virgin Islands fishery resources. The STFA was largely successful in negotiating with the CFMC to reduce closed areas and postpone species closures until further research is conducted. In 2021 the Eco-based Fisheries Management Plans will be approved for The Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ). The approval of these plans will allow for island and species-specific fisheries management. The STFA has developed research programs and secured NOAA and other funding sources to independently study the fishery. This scientific information, along with the historical knowledge from generations of fishing, puts the STFA in a unique position to participate in fisheries resource management. Further, the STFA is now included in the decision-making councils, the St. John Fishery Advisory Committee and the Caribbean Fisheries Management Council.