Abstract

The spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) tails catch of the Caribbean countries accounts for more than 11,000 tones, with a value of 286 Million USD; it provides jobs to 32,000 fishers, and yearly profits approach 169 Million USD. A biological and socio-economic assessment was made in the whole spiny lobster catch records. Diagnosis made on the condition of the stocks suggests that overfishing has been the main cause of decrease in biomass, profits, and social benefits. Then, optimum socio-economic harvesting strategies were explored with the aid of a simulation model, and pros and contras of social and economic benefits compared under three scenarios were examined as possible targets of the fisheries. Social and economical importance of the spiny lobster fisheries in the Caribbean justifies the creation of an institution devoted as a main goal, to monitoring the state of stocks to provide advice to the fisheries industry for ensuring the optimum sustainable exploitation of lobster stocks

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