Abstract

The Caribbean Spiny lobster fishery is in decline, indicating that it is fully or overexploited in most or all of its range. Declining stocks coupled with high demand for the luxury seafood item have added to the pressure on the resource as well as on those 250, 000 individuals who rely on the fishery for their livelihood. This paper compiles data and research undertaken in CARICOM States regarding the current state of the lobster fishery. The findings reveal that the open-access nature of the fishery; lack of monitoring, control, and enforcement of existing regulations; widespread illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing; inadequate policy framework, for long-term sustainable use; lack of harmonization of conservation and management regulations among the countries involved; insufficient financial resources and human capacity are all obstacles that need to be overcome. Four recommendations are made to improve conservation and management of the species throughout its range: improved data collection and regional standardization of data types; harmonized regulations at the sub-regional level; review and reform of governance systems at local, national and sub-regional levels; and control of IUU lobster fishery.