Lobster: Caribbean spiny

Spiny lobster, Rock lobster, Warmwater lobster, Florida spiny lobster, Caribbean spiny lobster, Crawfish

Spiny lobsters are typically found on the seafloor in tropical, semitropical and temperate waters hiding among rocks, kelp and coral. Most commonly sold just for their tails, the majority of Spiny (or Rock) lobsters in the US market are sourced from the Caribbean, Brazil and Florida. Vast differences exist amongst these fisheries. While the Florida fishery is characterized by strict guidelines, attentive management and extensive scientific assessment, spiny lobster fisheries in the Bahamas and Brazil are plagued with the opposite. Lobster in these regions are overfished, captured before they reach reproductive maturity or caught illegally. Data documenting population dynamics are limited, restricting the ability to devise appropriate management practises.

Caribbean spiny lobster is a quickly maturing inherently “resilient” species.

Stock assessments conducted by University-affiliated scientists in Brazil show steep declines in spawning biomass since the 1970s. Since commercial exploitation began in 1955, the fishery has a history of depleting lobsters in nearshore areas and moving farther and farther off-shore. Brazilian spiny lobster stocks are considered to be overfished and are thus considered of “high” conservation concern.

Bycatch (fish and endangered sea turtles) is moderate to high in the Brazilian fisheries, which use traps, gillnets, and hookah dive gear. Management is minimal and enforcement is notably poor. Management authorities have not considered bycatch an issue, except for turtle bycatch in 2004. Special concern comes from the bycatch of Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricate), Green turtles (Chelonia mydas), and also some isolated Leatherbacks (Dermochelys coriacea)and Loggerheads (Caretta caretta). Hookah boat divers also harpoon considerable amounts of groupers, snappers including the protected giant grouper. The nature of bycatch from the Brazilian Caribbean spiny lobster fishery causes “moderate” conservation concern.

This is primarily a trap fishery, although the recent “lobster rush” has seen an increase in the use of gill nets and hookah diving. Traps are deployed by boats of different sizes, from small sailboats (jangadas) to large ships. The traps are deployed in strings of few or many traps, depending on boat size. There is some damage to seafloor habitat from gill nets, hookah divers (who use nets to gather lobsters on the seafloor before hauling the catch on board) and to some extent traps on sea grass beds and calcareous algae. Seafloor damage from this fishery warrants a ranking of “moderate” conservation concern.

Brazil’s lobster fishery is open-entry. The prohibition on commercial diving is widely ignored and the fishery is in the midst of “what might be called a lobster rush”, because the national need for income and employment overshadows ecological concerns. Brazil’s management laws are not very progressive, consisting only of basic conservation measures such as size limits, closed season and mesh sizes and allow the harvest of lobsters for their tails only. Enforcement appears to be non-existent and under-sized lobster trafficking is becoming a lucrative business. Overall, the management situation in Brazil is a “critical” conservation concern because of inadequate regulations and enforcement.

Where is this Caribbean spiny lobster caught?

Caribbean spiny lobster caught in Florida is the “best choice” and those caught in Brazil should be avoided.

Contaminant levels do not warrant a consumption advisory.

No.