Seasonal Closure Zone

This zone encompasses the Nassau grouper spawning bank located on the northeast corner of the atoll. It covers an area of 1,550 ha, including the channel in the reef and extending out to the deep water of the fore reef and drop off. This zone overlaps with the more recent Spawning Aggregation Site.

Objectives

To provide protection for the population of spawning Nassau groupers during their reproductive season.
To monitor the recovery of the spawning population of groupers.

Use and Entry

The zone is closed to fishing from the 1st December to the 1st March. With the recent passing of the spawning site protective legislation (SI 161 / 2003), an area more closely linked to this spawning aggregation site has been closed to all fishing year round, and overlaps with the Seasonal Closure Zone.