La Reine Fish Market reopened on St. Croix after 14-year closure

Government House said Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. joined lawmakers, agency officials and fishing-industry representatives on February 24, 2021, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony reopening the renovated La Reine Fish Market on St. Croix.

The market had been closed since 2007 for health and safety reasons, according to the administration.

Government House said the facility includes 18 stalls and 12 cleaning stations for licensed commercial fishermen, along with an ice machine, ADA-compliant restrooms, parking and a 20,000-gallon fish-waste holding tank. Monthly rent was set at $150 for stalls and $75 for cleaning stations.

Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Jean-Pierre Oriol said the reopening marked the first phase of a larger project and would give fishers a centralized location to sell their catch while allowing the department to conduct port sampling of landings.

Oriol said that in 2019, St. Croix landings totaled nearly 105,000 pounds of fish valued at about $627,000, and in 2020 rose to 133,000 pounds valued at about $800,000.

Sen. Kenneth Gittens, whom Government House described as an advocate for reopening the market, attended the ceremony along with Agriculture Commissioner Positive Nelson, Tionee Scotland from Delegate Stacey Plaskett's office, and Gerson "Nicky" Martinez, representing St. Croix's commercial fishing industry.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-officially-reopens-newly-renovated-la-reine-fish-market/