What are Fishing Zones?

If you are into fishing, then you must have heard about the fishing zones. For those who don’t, fishing zones are designated fishing spots defined to make fishing sustainable and prevent some problems related to the extinction of species and the effect of climatic changes on the fish.

Fishing around the ocean coasts is not as beneficial as it used to be for people whose livelihood depends on fishing. With climatic changes, things are getting worse. Fishing zones provide a boundary with a controlled environment to protect the fish and prevent garbage and waste material from entering that area. Plastic waste is one of the significant dangers fishes face in the oceans.

What is the importance of the fishing zone? Are there any fishing zones located around you? Are fishing zones helpful in preservation? Questions like these and a lot more will be answered in this article, so keep reading till the end.

Detailed Information about Fishing Zones

Fishing zones are defined to deal with three significant problems:

Overfishing
Climate change
Habitat destruction due to pollution and plastic waste

The primary purpose of fishing zones is to ensure long-time conservation of fish. However, based on the threats to fish in a specific area, fishing zones are categorically divided into three types, with different protection levels. These types are:

Minimally Protected
Lightly Protected
Fully Protected

Minimally Protected: As the name suggests, it does provide some protection, but generally, it is minimal. The regulations are not enforced strictly, and there are occasional incidents of rule breakings. However, in any way, they are still better than unprotected zones.

Lightly Protected: protected fishing zones prevent any kind of drilling activity in the surrounding to prevent fishes’ habitat destruction. They allow commercial fishing with a sustainable practice to preserve the environment and the fishes.

Fully Protected: Fully protected areas prevent you from any kind of drilling, extrusive, or industrial activity in the vicinity. The rules are enforced to their maximum, and there is no place for any destructive activity.

Fishing zones are significant for the preservation of species of fish. It also helps you maintain a specific yield of fish to control the fish mortality rate. It helps you prevent any kind of waste or garbage material from entering into the area and causing environmental pollution. They do not only regulate but also manage the fishing rights and keep a check on the attitude of fishers towards the fish and resources. Fishing zones vastly help in maintaining a sustainable ecosystem and a clean environment.

Controlled fishing zones help you avoid a lot of problems. Environmental pollution due to a used fishing gear is a big problem, and enforcement of strict rules in fishing zones helps you negate that problem. Similarly, some destructive fishing methods such as blast fishing are banned from being used in a fishing zone as they cause more damage than any advantage.

Moreover, it helps you protect, if any, endangered species from extinction. Some species require a specific temperature and living conditions to sustain, and that is only possible to provide in a geographically bound fishing zone.

Importance of Fishing Zones

Scientific Importance of Fishing Zones

As described above, fishing zones help you maintain and preserve the ecosystem and protect the fish from extinction. It provides them with a habitat most useful for their growth.

Statistical Importance of Fishing Zones

More than 40% of fish production is contained within the defined fishing zones in the USA. This is a considerable number. Out of that 40%, more than 90% is used for direct human consumption.

Political Importance of Fishing Zones

Fishing zones hold substantial political importance, especially in the areas where fishing is the main livelihood of people. Creating a defined fishing zone regulates fishing and makes sure that people will get their desired fish all year without anything adversely impacting the fishing process. Creating a fishing zone in a community can be a political boost for anyone who gets it approved. It increases the value of that area with an increase in fish production and will lead to positive sentiments.

List of the important fishing zones in all of the US states

Alaska	Walrus Islands State Game Sanctuary
Connecticut	Bluff Point State Park/Natural Area Preserve
Connecticut	Silver Sands State Park/Charles Island Natural Area Preserve
Connecticut	Charles E. Wheeler Wildlife Management Area
Connecticut	Duck Island Wildlife Management Area/Natural Area Preserve (Westbrook)
Connecticut	East River Marsh Wildlife Area/ East River Wildlife Area
Connecticut	Great Island Wildlife Area/Roger Tory Peterson Natural Area Preserve
Connecticut	Harkness Memorial State Park/William A Niering Natural Area Preserve
Connecticut	Selden Neck State Park/Natural Area Preserve
Delaware	Cape Henlopen State Park
Delaware	Augustine Wildlife Area
Delaware	Ted Harvey Conservation Area (Wildlife Area)
Delaware	Little Creek Wildlife Area
Delaware	Assawoman Wildlife Area
Delaware	Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area
California	Farallon Islands Game Refuge
Connecticut	Hammonasset Natural Area Preserve
Delware	Woodland Beach Wildlife Area
Florida	St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve
Florida	St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park
Florida	Gasparilla Sound – Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserve
Florida	Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park
Florida	Lemon Bay Aquatic Preserve
Florida	Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve
Florida	Yellow River Marsh Aquatic Preserve
Florida	Rookery Bay Aquatic Preserve
Georgia	Altamaha Wildlife Management Area
Georgia	Little Tybee Island/Cabbage Island Natural Area
Georgia	Ossabaw Island Wildlife Management Area
Georgia	Sapelo Island Wildlife Management Area
Georgia	Skidaway Island State Park
Georgia	Crooked River State Park
Georgia	Fort McAllister State Park
Georgia	Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation Historic Site
Guam	Pati Point Preserve
Guam	Tumon Bay Preserve
Guam	Haputo Ecological Reserve Area
Guam	Piti Bomb Holes Preserve
Guam	Orote Ecological Reserve Area
Guam	Achang Reef Flat
Hawaii	Kaho’olawe Island Reserve
Indiana	Indiana Dunes State Park (Dunes Nature Preserve)
Los Angeles	Atchafalaya Delta Wildlife Management Area and Game Preserve
Massachusetts	Alger Great Lakes State Bottomland Preserve
Massachusetts	Detour Passage Great Lakes State Bottomland Preserve
Massachusetts	Keweenaw Great Lakes State Bottomland Preserve
Massachusetts	Manitou Passage Great Lakes State Bottomland Preserve
Massachusetts	Marquette Great Lakes State Bottomland Preserve
Massachusetts	Sanilac Shores Great Lakes State Underwater Preserve
Massachusetts	Southwest Michigan Great Lakes State Bottomland Preserve
Massachusetts	Straits of Mackinac Great Lakes State Bottomland Preserve
Massachusetts	Thumb Area Great Lakes State Bottomland Preserve
Massachusetts	Whitefish Point Great Lakes State Bottomland Preserve
Northern Marianas	Bird Island Sea Cucumber Reserve
Northern Marianas	Tank Beach Trochus Reserve
Northern Marianas	Managaha Marine Conservation Area
Northern Marianas	Lighthouse Reef Trochus Reserve
Mississippi	Graveline Bay Coastal Preserve
Mississippi	Hancock County Marsh Coastal Preserve
Mississippi	Jourdan River Coastal Preserve
Mississippi	Old Fort Bayou Coastal Preserve
Mississippi	Pascagoula River Marsh Coastal Preserve
Mississippi	Round Island Coastal Preserve
Mississippi	Bayou La Croix Coastal Preserve
Mississippi	Wolf River Marsh Coastal Preserve
Mississippi	Bayou Portage Coastal Preserve
North Carolina	Fort Macon State Park Dedicated Nature Preserve
North Carolina	Kitty Hawk Woods Dedicated Nature Preserve
North Carolina	Masonboro Island Estuarine Reserve Dedicated Nature Preserve
North Carolina	Rachel Carson Estuarine Reserve Dedicated Nature Preserve
North Carolina	Roanoke Island Marshes Dedicated Nature Preserve
North Carolina	Northwest River Marsh Game Land Dedicated Nature Preserve
North Carolina	Buxton Woods Coastal Reserve Dedicated Nature Preserve
North Carolina	Currituck Banks Estuarine Reserve Dedicated Nature Preserve
North Carolina	Currituck Outer Banks Preserve Dedicated Nature Preserve
North Carolina	Nags Head Woods Preserve Dedicated Nature Preserve
North Carolina	Theodore Roosevelt State Natural Area Dedicated Nature Preserve
North Carolina	Zekes Island Estuarine Reserve Dedicated Nature Preserve
North Carolina	Permuda Island Coastal Reserve
New Hampshire	Hampton Beach State Park
New Hampshire	Odiorne Point State Park
New Hampshire	Rye Harbor State Park (Ragged Neck)
New Jersey	Cheesequake State Park
New Jersey	Port Republic Wildlife Management Area
New Jersey	Swan Bay Wildlife Management Area
New Jersey	Great Bay Boulevard Wildlife Management Area
New Jersey	Fort Mott State Park
New Jersey	Heislerville Wildlife Management Area
New Jersey	Dennis Creek Wildlife Management Area
New Jersey	Fortescue Wildlife Management Area
New Jersey	Cape May Wetlands Wildlife Management Area
New Jersey	Abbotts Meadow Wildlife Management Area
New Jersey	North Brigantine State Natural Area
New Jersey	Cape May Wetlands State Natural Area
New Jersey	Corson’s Inlet State Park
New Jersey	Swimming River Natural Area
Hawaii	Old Kona Airport Marine Life Conservation District
Hawaii	Kealakekua Bay Marine Life Conservation District
North Carolina	Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve Dedicated Nature Preserve
New Mexico	Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
Ohio	Headland Dunes State Nature Preserve
Ohio	North Pond State Nature Preserve
Ohio	North Shore Alvar State Nature Preserve
Ohio	Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve
Oregon	Whale Cove Habitat Refuge
Puerto Rico	Bosque Estatal de Ceiba Natural Reserve
Puerto Rico	Canal Luis Pe├▒a Natural Reserve
Puerto Rico	Laguna Joyuda Natural Reserve
Puerto Rico	Isla de Desecheo Marine Reserve
Puerto Rico	El Pantano, Bosque de Pterocarpus y Lagunas Mandry y Santa Teresa Natural Reserve
Puerto Rico	Tres Palmas de Rinc├│n Marine Reserve
Texas	Candy Abshier Wildlife Management Area
Virginia	Cape Charles Coastal Habitat Natural Area Preserve
Virgin Island	Compass Point Pond Marine Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary
Virgin Island	St. Croix East End Marine Park
Washington	Brackett’s Landing Shoreline Sanctuary Conservation Area
Washington	Dabob Bay Natural Area Preserve
Washington	Zella M. Schultz/Protection Island Seabird Sanctuary
Washington	Sund Rock Conservation Area
Washington	Octopus Hole Conservation Area
Washington	Orchard Rocks Conservation Area
Washington	South 239th Street Park Conservation Area
Oregon	Redfish Rocks Marine Reserve
Oregon	Otter Rock Marine Reserve
New Mexico	Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary
American Samoa	Fagamalo Village Marine Protected Area
American Samoa	Sa’ilele Village Marine Protected Area
American Samoa	Amanave Village Marine Protected Area
California	Richardson Rock (San Miguel Island) State Marine Reserve
California	Judith Rock (San Miguel Island) State Marine Reserve
California	Harris Point (San Miguel Island) State Marine Reserve
New York	Napeague State Park
New York	Nissequogue River State Park
New York	Orient Beach State Park
New York	Camp Hero State Park
New York	Robert Moses State Park – Long Island
New York	Shadmoor State Park
New York	Wildwood State Park
New York	Captree State Park
New York	Gilgo State Park
New York	Governor Alfred E. Smith/Sunken Meadow State Park
Ohio	Magee Marsh Wildlife Area
Oregon	Haystack Rock Marine Garden
Oregon	Cape Kiwanda Marine Garden
Oregon	Otter Rock Marine Garden
Oregon	Yaquina Head Marine Garden
Oregon	Cape Perpetua Marine Garden
Oregon	Harris Beach Marine Garden
Oregon	Pirate Cove Research Reserve
Pennsylvania	Presque Isle State Park
Pennsylvania	Neshaminy State Park – Tidal Marsh Natural Area
Pennsylvania	Little Tinicum Island Natural Area
Puerto Rico	Bosque Estatal de Gu├ínica Natural Reserve
Puerto Rico	Bosque Natural de Boquer├│n Natural Reserve
Puerto Rico	Cabezas de San Juan Natural Reserve
Puerto Rico	Bah├¡as Bioluminiscentes de Vieques Natural Reserve
Puerto Rico	Cueva del Indio Natural Reserve
Puerto Rico	Ca├▒o Tiburones Natural Reserve
Puerto Rico	La Parguera Natural Reserve
Puerto Rico	Arrecifes de la Cordillera Natural Reserve
Puerto Rico	R├¡o Esp├¡ritu Santo Natural Reserve
Puerto Rico	Bosque Estatal de Pi├▒ones Natural Reserve
South Carolina	Bear Island Wildlife Management Area
South Carolina	Bird Key Stono Heritage Preserve
South Carolina	St. Helena Sound Heritage Preserve
South Carolina	Tom Yawkee Wildlife Center
South Carolina	Crab Bank Seabird Sanctuary
Texas	Sea Rim State Park
Texas	Boca Chica State Park
Texas	Galveston Island State Park
Texas	Goose Island State Park
Texas	Lower Neches Wildlife Management Area
Texas	Mad Island Wildlife Management Area
Hawaii	Wai’opae Tidepools Marine Life Conservation District
Florida	Henderson Creek/Enchanting Shores No Entry Zone
Florida	Pansy Bayou No Entry Zone
Hawaii	Molokini Shoal Marine Life Conservation District
Hawaii	Manele-Hulopoe Marine Life Conservation District
Hawaii	Lapakahi Marine Life Conservation District
Texas	Mustang Island State Park
Texas	Justin Hurst Wildlife Management Area
Texas	J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area
Virginia	False Cape State Park
Virginia	Kiptopeke State Park
Virginia	Bethel Beach Natural Area Preserve
Virginia	Bush Mill Stream Natural Area Preserve
Virginia	Caledon Natural Area
Virginia	Chotank Creek Natural Area Preserve
Virginia	Cumberland Marsh Natural Area Preserve
Virginia	Dameron Marsh Natural Area Preserve
Virginia	Hughlett Point Natural Area Preserve
Virgin Island	St. James Marine Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary
Washington	Argyle Lagoon San Juan Islands Marine Preserve
Washington	False Bay San Juan Islands Marine Preserve
Washington	Friday Harbor San Juan Islands Marine Preserve
Washington	Woodard Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area
Washington	Titlow Beach Marine Preserve
Washington	Z’s Reef Marine Preserve
Washington	Admiralty Head Marine Preserve
Washington	Colvos Passage Marine Preserve
Washington	Blake Island Underwater Park
Washington	Fort Worden Underwater Park
Washington	Shaw Island San Juan Islands Marine Preserve
Washington	Tongue Point Marine Life Sanctuary
Washington	Yellow and Low Islands San Juan Islands Marine Preserve

Steve Hudson

I have been an outdoor activities enthusiast from teenage. I have been going out with my parents on different outdoor activities such as camping and hiking. After moving to a town surrounded by three well known fishing spots, I started fishing and started using all kinds of tricks and equipment to make the most out of each adventure I pursued. Over the years I have been camping outdoor, hiking and following my passion of enjoying life at full. Few years ago, I started writing about my thoughts, experiments and ideas about outdoor, fishing, hiking and more. This blog is a compilation of that plus tips, ideas and products that can make life more meaningful, enjoyable and a pleasant.