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.

This species has early maturation and is considered inherently “resilient” to fishing pressure.

As of 2003, there was no systematic, fisheries independent stock or population assessments for the California Spiny lobster. The relatively small fishery has been tracked through commercial landings and management decisions made using this information seem to have kept the commercial stock healthy. Catch and effort statistics for the recreational fishery are entirely unknown and for this reason the status of wild spiny lobster stocks is considered a “moderate” conservation concern.

Trap fisheries generally have minimal bycatch and so this is a “low” conservation concern.

Traps are usually considered a sustainable fishing method, although National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) authorities caution that traps can damage seafloor habitat, especially live coral and manatee grass beds. The California Spiny lobster trap fishery is considered to have “benign” habitat and ecosystem effects.

Over the years the Californian managers have used landings data to make regulatory decisions. Management measures implemented in 2001 include a fishing season to avoid the prime breeding season, a minimum size limit to allow lobsters several breeding seasons before they are of legal catch size and gear restrictions. The current California Spiny lobster management is considered “highly effective”.

Contaminant levels do not warrant a consumption advisory.

No.