The Ministry of Home Affairs has announced amendments to the Fisheries Order to open fishing on the red hind grounds from today.

The ministry stressed that the extended closure areas around the black grouper grounds remain closed until December 1.

The Seasonally Protected Areas were closed for the first time on April 15 — fishing has historically been banned in the areas from the start of May through to the end of August.

The restrictions were put in place in the 1970s to protect groupers and hinds from excessive fishing when they aggregate.

However, in recent years, there seems to have been a shift in when aggregations first form for the season, and large catches of red hind occurred from the “hind grounds” during the month of April in both 2016 and 2014.

Technical officers of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources think red hind are gathering earlier to spawn in some years because of increased seawater temperatures.

Following consultations with stakeholders, it was agreed that the red hind aggregation sites needed greater protection and it was decided to move the closure period for the Seasonally Protected Areas forward by two weeks. Therefore the closure period for the “hind grounds” will now run from April 15 through August 14 each year.

The larger black grouper has a longer spawning season than the red hind, running from the spring through the month of November. It is for this reason fishing will be prohibited in the extended closure areas through November 30th each year.

Amendments have also been made to the Fisheries Regulations 2010 in order to further protect the red hind. These are: The addition of a year-round catch limit for recreational fishers of ten Red Hind per boat or per person fishing from shore within a 24-hour period and; A catch limit for commercial fishermen of 50 red hind per boat within a 24-hour period during the month of April.

The catch limit of ten red hind per 24-hour period from May 1 to August 31 remains in place for commercial fishermen.

The public is also reminded that there is a year-round catch limit of one black grouper per boat or per person fishing from shore within a 24-hour period for all fishers.

In addition, fishers are reminded that Marine Resources officers are conducting tagging studies on red hind and black grouper to better understand their movements around the Bermuda Platform, particularly at spawning aggregations sites. All fishers are encouraged to contact the Marine Resources Section at 293-5600 or fisheries@gov.bm if you catch a tagged red hind or black grouper. All tags taken from examined fish will be entered into a draw. Four $500 Masters gift certificates will be awarded throughout the year. The draw for the first certificate will be held on September 1, 2017.

The tagging studies will provide important information that technical officers from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources can use to help evaluate the effectiveness of these new protective measures. The intention is to review these measures once sufficient data have been collected.

The ministry urges the public to familiarise themselves with the Seasonally Protected Areas and extended closure areas, and to abide by the Fisheries Regulations.

For more information contact the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Marine Resources Section at 293-5600 or fisheries@gov.bm