Title 12 — Conservation
21 chapters · 371 sections in this title.
12 V.I.C. § 1 Functions of Commissioner of Conservation and Cultural Affairs
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Except as otherwise provided, the Commissioner of Conservation and Cultural Affairs shall administer the provisions of this chapter.
12 V.I.C. § 11 Issuance of hunting licenses
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(a) The Commissioner of Conservation and Cultural Affairs shall issue all hunting licenses provided for in this chapter upon the approval, by the Commissioner, of the applications therefor, and upon payment, by the applicants, of the license fees provided for in this chapter. (b)…
12 V.I.C. § 12 Types of licenses; fees; deer tag
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(a) A license to hunt birds or furred animals may be issued to citizens who have resided in the United States Virgin Islands for one year or more upon the payment of $2 per season or fraction thereof. (b) A license to hunt deer may be issued to such citizens upon the payment of $…
12 V.I.C. § 13 Permits to minors
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(a) The Commissioner may issue to a minor not below the age of 16 a permit to hunt when accompanied by a licensed hunter—(1) upon payment of the annual fees prescribed in this chapter; and(2) upon certification by one of his parents or guardians of his age. (1) upon payment of th…
12 V.I.C. § 14 Special licenses for scientists and collectors
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(a) The Commissioner may grant special permission to recognized scientists or bona fide collectors, upon their presentation of proper credentials, to trap, snare, capture, kill or otherwise obtain during any season, specimens of wildlife or their eggs which are protected by this …
12 V.I.C. § 15 Replacement of lost or destroyed licenses
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If a license is lost or destroyed a duplicate license may be issued upon the payment of $1.
12 V.I.C. § 16 Suspension and revocation of licenses
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The Commissioner may suspend or revoke any licenses granted under this chapter for just cause.
12 V.I.C. § 17 Possession of hunting license while hunting
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Whoever fails to carry his hunting license on his person while hunting or fails to make it available for inspection to any person duly authorized to make such inspections, shall be fined not more than $5.
12 V.I.C. § 18 Hunting without a license
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Whoever hunts, except as provided for herein, without having obtained a hunting license issued by the Commissioner of Conservation and Cultural Affairs, shall be fined not more than $100 or imprisoned not more than 60 days, or both.
12 V.I.C. § 19 Transfer of hunting licenses
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Whoever transfers his hunting license to, or permits it to be used by, another person, or uses a license to which he has no right, shall be fined not more than $25.
12 V.I.C. § 2 Appointment of supervisory personnel
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The Commissioner may appoint personnel responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter.
12 V.I.C. § 3 Powers of supervisory personnel
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Supervisory personnel appointed under section 2 of this title or under those provisions of “an Act to Provide that the United States shall Aid the States in Wildlife Restoration Projects, and for Other Purposes”, Act of Congress September 2, 1937, 50 Stat. 917 (16 U.S.C. § 669 et…
12 V.I.C. § 31 Seasons for hunting certain birds
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(a) Hunting, trapping or taking wild birds by any means is prohibited except as provided below.(1) The following wild birds may be hunted each year between June 15 and September 30, inclusive—Wild PigeonsWood Doves (Quail Doves)Mountain DovesGround Doves(2) Parakeets may be trapp…
12 V.I.C. § 32 Season for hunting deer
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(a) Hunting, killing, capturing or taking deer by any means is prohibited for a period of five years, commencing on July 1, 1971, except by the Commissioner or his designee in conjunction with and in furtherance of the program established by section 2722 of Title 19 of the Virgin…
12 V.I.C. § 33 Agoutis and Iguanas [Repealed]
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12 V.I.C. § 33 Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 Virgin Islands Code AnnotatedCopyright © 2026 All rights reserved.
12 V.I.C. § 36 Hunting mongooses; bounties
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(a) Mongooses may be hunted at any time of the year. (b) The Commissioner shall pay the sum of 25 cents for each mongoose delivered, dead or alive. (c) Whoever breeds the mongoose for the purpose of obtaining the bounty prescribed by this section shall be fined not more than $25,…
12 V.I.C. § 37 Extending or curtailing hunting seasons
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If the Commissioner determines that an excess or shortage of any type of game exists, he may lengthen, shorten or close any season upon the posting of public notice of such action for at least 10 days prior to its effective date.
12 V.I.C. § 4 Assistance of U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department (V.I.P.D.)
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(a) The Commissioner may secure the assistance of the U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department (V.I.P.D.) in executing the provisions of this chapter. (b) The Commissioner and enforcement officers appointed by the Commissioner to enforce the conservation laws, boating safety, antiqu…
12 V.I.C. § 5 Use of license fees, gifts and appropriations
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All license fees provided for in this chapter to be paid by hunters and all monies appropriated by the Legislature or received by gift or otherwise, which are for the conservation of wildlife, shall be expended by the Commissioner solely for the administration and application of …
12 V.I.C. § 51 Bag limits for wild bird hunters
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(a) No hunter shall take, on any day of the season, more birds than are specified below.(1) For Ground Doves, Mountain Doves and Wild Pigeons, the limit is 10 in the aggregate;(2) For Coots, Wild Ducks, and Waterfowl, the limit is 10 each;(3) For Night Ducks, locally called Whist…
12 V.I.C. § 52 Limit for deer hunters
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(a) The limit for deer for each hunter is one deer per season, in accordance with the following provisions—(1) Each deer taken must be tagged immediately with the tag issued with the deer license.(2) A report of each taking of a deer must be reported to the Commissioner within 24…
12 V.I.C. § 53 Change in game limits
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(1) The Commissioner, whenever he determines that conditions so warrant, may—(1) increase or decrease any bag limits prescribed by this chapter; or(2) prescribe bag limits for particular types of wildlife for which no bag limits exist—upon the posting of public notice of the prop…
12 V.I.C. § 61 Goats kept for food purposes
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Goats kept for the replenishment of food shall not be considered wildlife for the purposes of subchapters II-IV of this chapter.
12 V.I.C. § 62 Shipment of game birds from the United States Virgin Islands
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(1) No person may ship out any game birds from the United States Virgin Islands except that—(1) a licensed hunter may take not more than 10 birds a week from the United States Virgin Islands;(2) birds may be shipped for scientific or breeding purposes by special permission of the…
12 V.I.C. § 63 Use of wire and other traps
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No person shall use wire or other traps to capture or ensnare deer.
12 V.I.C. § 64 Capturing deer
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No wild deer may be held in captivity without the written permission of the Commissioner.
12 V.I.C. § 65 Sale of deer meat illegal
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It shall be illegal for any person to sell local deer meat. Whoever violates this section shall be fined not more than $200 or imprisoned not more than 60 days, or both.
12 V.I.C. § 66 Liability for damage committed while hunting
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Whoever hunts upon the lands, waters, or ponds of another with consent, shall, nevertheless, be responsible to the owner for any damage done by himself or his dogs.
12 V.I.C. § 67 Damage to crops and fruit trees by wildlife
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(a) Whenever wildlife is damaging crops or fruit trees, the owner or lessee of the lands on which such damage is done, may report such fact to the Commissioner for investigation. If the Commissioner finds that wildlife is responsible for the damage reported, and that the damage i…
12 V.I.C. § 68 Identification of offender
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Any person witnessing an offense defined in subchapter II, III, or IV of this chapter may require the offender to give him his name and address. Any such offender who refuses to do so, or who gives a fictitious name or address, shall, in addition to any penalty imposed for the or…
12 V.I.C. § 69 Possession and transportation of deer or deer meat taken in violation of chapter; assisting in violations
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(1) Whoever—(1) possesses, transports, purchases, deer or deer meat which was not taken in accordance with the provisions of this chapter; or(2) assists in any way in the hunting or capturing of deer in violation of any provision of this chapter—shall be fined not more than $100 …
12 V.I.C. § 70 Other penalties
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Whoever violates any provision of this subchapter shall, if no other penalty is provided herein for such violation, be fined not more than $50.
12 V.I.C. § 81 Wildlife restoration projects
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(a) The Legislature of the Virgin Islands hereby—(1) accepts the provisions of “an Act to Provide that the United States shall Aid the States in Wildlife Restoration Projects, and for Other Purposes”, Act of Congress, September 2, 1937, chapter 899, 50 Stat. 917 (16 U.S.C. § 669 …
12 V.I.C. § 81a Fish and Game Fund
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Effective July 1, 1958, the proceeds from all firearms licenses, all excise taxes on firearms, parts and ammunition, all fines imposed by the courts for violation of the fish, game or conservation laws, and all monies obtained as described in chapter 9A, section 314 of this title…
12 V.I.C. § 81b Administration and use of Fish and Game Fund
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The Commissioner of Finance is directed to maintain the “Fish and Game Fund” as a separate and distinct fund in the Treasury. Funds shall be disbursed therefrom by the Commissioner of Finance, upon request of the Commissioner, only for purposes of wildlife restoration projects an…
12 V.I.C. § 81c Sport fish restoration and management projects
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(a) For purposes of this section, the term “sport fish restoration and management projects” means projects designed for the restoration and management of all species of fish which have material value in connection with sports or recreation in the marine or fresh waters of the Vir…
12 V.I.C. § 81d Fish and Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund
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(a) The Fish and Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund (“the Trust”) is established in the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands as a separate and distinct fund held by the Commissioner of Finance in trust for the benefit Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Divisio…
12 V.I.C. § 82 Administration of projects
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(a) The Commissioner shall be responsible for the maintenance and administration, under the laws of the United States Virgin Islands, of all areas acquired, structures erected, or equipment purchased under the provisions of the Act referred to in subsection (a) of section 81 of t…
12 V.I.C. § 91 Establishment of game preserves
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The Commissioner may, whenever he finds it necessary for the protection of wildlife, declare any area in the United States Virgin Islands a game preserve, and may prohibit hunting of any or all types thereon for one season at a time.
12 V.I.C. § 92 Control and supervision of game preserves and wildlife sanctuaries
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All existing game preserves and wildlife sanctuaries in the United States Virgin Islands shall be controlled and supervised by the Commissioner.
12 V.I.C. § 93 Christiansted deer preserve
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(a) The following area is declared a preserve for the propagation and restoration of wild deer:The entire area of St. Croix lying east of the town of Christiansted commencing one mile offshore of the area known as Mt. Welcome and including the entire area of Mt. Welcome; then run…
12 V.I.C. § 94 Islands and cays to be administered by the Department
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(a) The Department of Conservation and Cultural Affairs shall have the authority and responsibility for the management, control and use of all islands and cays off the shores of St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John, owned by the Government of the United States Virgin Islands. (b) T…
12 V.I.C. § 95 Restocking area with birds
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(a) When birds of high breeding potential are released for the purpose of restocking an area, that area shall be closed immediately thereafter to hunting those birds for a period of at least two breeding seasons. (b) If the Commissioner determines that at the end of two breeding …
12 V.I.C. § 96 Prohibited acts in wildlife and marine sanctuaries
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(a) Except under a permit or specific authorization of the Commissioner of Planning and Natural Resources, it is unlawful in any wildlife or marine sanctuary to:(1) take or possess any bird, fish or other wildlife, or part thereof;(2) use or possess any firearm, bow and arrow, or…
12 V.I.C. § 97 Establishment of wildlife or marine sanctuaries
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(a) The Commissioner of Planning and Natural Resources may for the purpose of propagating, feeding and protecting birds, fish and other wildlife:(1) designate and establish wildlife or marine sanctuaries in addition to those designated in section 94 of this chapter, and public ac…
12 V.I.C. § 98 Croix East End Marine Park established; establishment of territorial system of marine parks authorized
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(a) To protect territorially significant marine resources, promote sustainability of marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, sea grass beds, wildlife habitats and other resources and to conserve and preserve significant natural areas for the use and benefit of future generation…
12 V.I.C. § 99 Penalties
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Whoever violates any provision of this subchapter shall, if no other penalty is provided herein for such violation, be subject to a fine of not more than $5000, imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or both.
12 V.I.C. § 99a Enforcement officers; power; authority
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(a) Enforcement officers of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources may enter upon any land or waters of the Territory for the performance of their lawful duties, and may take with them any necessary equipment. Such entry shall not constitute a trespass. It shall be lawf…
12 V.I.C. § 101 Purpose
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The purpose of this chapter is to protect, conserve, and manage indigenous fish, wildlife and plants, and endangered or threatened species for the ultimate benefit of all United States Virgin Islanders, now and in the future.
12 V.I.C. § 102 Definitions
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(a) For the purpose of this chapter and unless the context otherwise requires:(a) “Animal life” means any member of any non-domesticated species of the animal kingdom, whether reared in captivity or not, and includes all species occurring within the jurisdiction of the United Sta…