Red Hind Zones Re-Opened But Black Grouper Zones Remain Closed

The Red Hind aggregation areas within Bermuda’s Seasonally Protected Areas, re-opened on Tuesday, following recent amendments to the Fisheries (Protected Areas) Order 2000 Act.

But the Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a public advisory that the extended closure areas around Black Grouper aggregations will remain closed to fishing until December 1st.

This after the Seasonally Protected Areas were closed early for the first time this year, on April 15th, although, a Ministry spokeswoman noted that fishing has historically been prohibited in these areas from the beginning of May through to the end of August.

“These closures were put in place in the 1970s to protect hinds and groupers from excessive fishing when they come together in large groups to spawn. However, in recent years, there appears 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,” she said.

“Technical officers of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources think the Red Hind are gathering earlier to spawn in some years because of increased sea water 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 fun from April 15th through August 14th each year.

“The larger Black Grouper has a longer spawning season than the Red Hind, and this species forms aggregations from the spring through the month of November. This is why fishing will be prohibited in the extended closure areas through November 30th each year. These measures have been put in place to afford greater protection to these important spawning aggregations going forward.”

Amendments have also been made to the Fisheries Regulations 2010 in order to further protect the Red Hind, including:

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 Hinds per 24 hour period from May 1 to August 31 remains in place for commercial fishermen.

“The fishing 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 aggregation sites.”

The Ministry also encouraged all fishers 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 gift certificates from Masters Limited will be awarded throughout the year. The draw for the first certificate will be held on September 1st.

It was also noted that the tagging studies will provide important information that technical officers “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”.

Members of the public are urged to familiarize themselves with the Seasonally Protected Areas and extended closure areas, and to abide by the Fisheries Regulations in order to help conserve Bermuda’s Red Hind and Black Grouper populations.