The Lobster Fisheries of the Caribbean

he Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) fisheries stretch from Bermuda to Brazil, including the Caribbean islands and coastal countries. Most Tmembers of the Palinuridae family, with 8 genera and 47 species wordwide, are found in shallow waters and live in coral reefs or among rocks. In Central America, the commercial lobster fishery has been active for more than 100 years, focusing mainly on P. Aarhus and, to a lesser extent, on P. Guttatus and P. Laevicauda. The region is one of the most important production areas in the Greater Caribbean, ranking third behind Cuba and the Bahamas, and ahead of the United States and Mexico. Panulirus argus, the most commonly fished species, has the following characteristics: • Grows to a total length of up to 45cm. • Lives in shallow waters to a depth of 90m or more. • Habitats include coral reefs, rocks, sea- grasses and mangroves. • Is gregarious and migratory. • Females move to deeper waters to lay their eggs, traveling by day in rows or lines of up to 50 individuals, moving together and maintaing contact with their antennae. Hatching usually takes place from April to October when the temperature is above 23º C. • After settling in a crevice, lobsters reach a length of approximately 7.5 cm in the first year. They remain there from 3 and 4 years before being recruited into the fishery. Panulirus argus is intensively fished operations. Furthermore, there is evidence Recommendations for in the region, both by small-scale fisher- that the total production of the fleets is begin- better lobster management men and industrial fleets, using a variety ning to decline. practices: of methods: free diving, gill nets, lobster It is necessary therefore to change cer- traps, harpoons and aggregating devices. tain fishing practices in the region and to • Harmonize criteria on closed seasons, Export earnings from lobster main- implement others that will help improve minimum legal catch sizes and tain a significant population of fishermen, management of the lobster resource, pro- permitted fishing gear as well as boat operators, processing plant workers moting its recovery in the mid to long term. criteria for monitoring the fishing effort and related services in Belize, Honduras, One of the most common problems with and the capacity of the fisheries. Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. diving is the capture of juvenile lobsters and • Develop a joint strategy among coun- Over in the last 15 years, the total pro- egg-bearing females. And diving is one of the tries to create better conditions to duction exported by Central America to the most serious problems, both in terms of its guarantee recruitment into the lobster United States increased from 1,908 Metric impact on human health and lives, and on the fisheries. Each country should increase Tones (MT) to 3,646MT, with the annual aver- vitality of the ecosystem since the social and its effort to determine which are the age estimated at 2,944.1MT. Furthermore, environmental cost of this type of harvests best settlement areas for lobster lar- the fisheries of Nicaragua and Honduras is very high. vae and the critical areas for raising dominated the region’s production, grow- However, the high dependence of diving juveniles. ing from a 65% share in 1989 to 87.5% communities on the income earned from this • Promote the establishment of marine in 2003. activity suggests that, alongside its elimina- protected areas and the implementa- Belize, Costa Rica and Panama, com- tion, efforts to guarantee alternative income tion of management plans for those bined, have had a smaller share in the generation activities associated with fisheries habitats. region’s seafood production and exports to must redoubled. • Collect reliable statistical information the United States. At the start of the period on catches, including data on popula- (1989), Panama occupied third place with tion dynamics and natural history. 21%, followed by Belize with 9.8% and • Establish a regional working group for Costa Rica with 4%. From 1993 onwards, this fishery. Belize has occupied third place, displacing • Promote and disseminate better fish- Panama. In 2003, Belize continued to occu- ing practices, particularly to targeted py third place in exports (8.3%), followed populations in coastal communities. by Panama (3.7%) and Costa Rica (0.5%). Nicaragua and Honduras currently con- tribute 87.5% of Central American exports to the United States. Of particular importance is the production obtained from the Miskito Coast, which generates around

40% of Nicaragua’s production. PHOTO: CARLOS DREWS

Lobster scarcity

Lobster fisheries productivity is show- ing signs of decline throughout the region, particularly in terms of overall lobster catches and the performance of the fishing industry. Given this situation concerns about the fisheries sustainability, productivity and ecosystem health. Taking the average annual yields per vessel in Nicaragua as a reference point, it can be concluded that a greater fishing effort using more vessels or more effective technology, such as diving with air-tanks, will not increase the profitability of individual fishing

The establishment of marine protected areas is a good alternative for the conservation of lobster and other marine species What follows is a summary of the current situation, challenges and Current status of lobster trends in the lobster value chain in the Caribbean Coast of Central America. In catches by areas addition this section analyzes the critical points in the process of promoting this is a marginal problem but one that must the use of better management practic- BELIZE 1 be controlled to obtain certification. es, or BMPs. These high yields leveled off after three The research work on the Spiny The country’s location is ideal for rapid years of abundance, prompting the authori- access to seafood markets in the United ties to conclude that lobster stocks were Lobster (Panulirus argus) focused spe- States, Mexico and Europe. In Belize, lobster being exploited to the limit of their sustain- cifically on the following areas: Belize, fishing is the artisanal fishery that generates ability and that allowing fishing in deeper the highest proportion of earnings. This waters would further endanger lobster Honduran and Nicaraguan Miskito fishery represented 7.2% of GDP in the year stocks. Coast and the Cahuita –La Amistad– Rio 2001, with a total value of US$33 million. Between 1999 and 2002 prices Cañas region in Costa Rica and Panama. The resource is extracted from the increased at a steady rate of 11%, rising The marine environment covers coral banks that extend along the entire from US$11.25 per pound a US$15.25 per more than 75% of the surface area in length of the Belizean continental shelf, pound. In 2003, prices fell by nearly one dol- some 50 kilometers offshore. The lobster lar per pound, and have remained between these zones. Biological production of is processed by plants located in Belize US$14 and US$14.25 per pound. The coun- the richest coastal regions competes City, the country’s main port and outlet for try’s total lobster production stands at more with the lushest tropical forests. exports where the fishing cooperatives are than 600,000 pounds annually. also based. The seafood industry provides Outboard motors were introduced in food for millions of people, but there the 1980s, facilitating access to shallow Key points is evidence that marine resources are fishing grounds and increasing the use of wooden traps. In a ten-year period the • Application of more sustainable practices declining due to unsustainable use. number of traps per fisherman increased • Producers organized in efficient and profit- The PROARCA/APM project works to from between 10 and 15, to 100 traps for able cooperatives disseminate and promote the adoption boats with outboard motors. Nowadays, • Compliance with legislation fisherman may have as many as 400 lobster • Use of wooden traps (“casitas”) and other of BMPs and to establish relationships traps. fishing methods with markets for differentiated prod- At the same time, in southern Belize • Quality certification ucts that offer better trading conditions. fishermen began to use trammel nets to • Opportunity for technology transfer by coop- catch lobster. Although this method pro- eratives The objective is to reduce the threats duced high yields, similar to those obtained • Differentiated marketing strategies to these natural resources and improve by lobster trappers in the North, it was conditions for sustainability. not a very eco-friendly system resulting in bycatch and damage to coral reef. Currently, A value chain is defined as “the series of stages, from the production of the primary good to its purchase by the end consumer, in which the product or service is processed, packaged, trans- ported and marketed, adding value at

each stage”. PHOTO: CENTRAL AMERICA By knowing their position within this chain, producers and traders can identify the most critical activities for achieving competitive advantages and, simultane- ously, those that are key to promoting changes in current practices, adopting others that are more sustainable. Value Chain - Lobster Trap to Plant, U.S. Dollars per pound of lobster (tails)

Trapper Processing Plant Processing Plant Importer

Profit 68.00% Profit 7% Profit 25% Profit 4.76% NICARAGUAN 3MISKITO COAST Total brokerage Family 1.90% Food 0.027% Adm. Costs 10.22% costs 6.35% At the end of the seventies, lobster fishing increased reaching 2.81 million pounds Food 2.95% Fuel 5.09% Salaries 0.94% Costs 88.89% in 1978. However, the Miskito-Sandinista Ice 1.58% Boat payment 1.18% Electricity 1.94% conflict of 1983-1989 paralyzed economic activity in the area. From 1990 onward, Boat rent 7.60% Costs 86.00% Taxes 0.72% there was a resurgence in lobster fishing due to the establishment of three fish land- Fuel 14% Rent 0.05% ing facilities. The country’s total lobster production is more than 3 million pounds Traps 4.27% Costs 61.10% annually. The ecological and social problems in this region are very similar to those of Honduran Relative prices of lobster (US$/ Lb Tails) HONDURAN Miskito Coast: accelerated exploitation of MISKITO COAST Boat owners Processing plants the resource, increased costs in the fishing 2 Honduras / Nicaragua Honduras/Nicaragua 11-12 14-17 effort and serious social problems derived Industrial lobster fishing began in this from permanent injuries caused by deep- Wholesalers Retailers region during the 1970s. By 1999, there United States United States sea diving. were 172 vessels measuring between 12 to 17-20 22-32 Unlike Honduras, the fishing fleet is com- 24 meters in length. Of these, 82 used traps Importer Food service posed of small-scale or artisanal fishermen Florida/United States United States and 90 employed divers. In addition to the 15.75-19 27-47 who use lobster traps and to a lesser extent licenses for each vessel, the industry also by free divers, representing approximately had another 47 licenses to fish in Nicaragua Key points 50 % of the area’s fishing activity. The rest or Colombia. The Honduran Atlantic fleet cur- of the activity is carried out by industrial ves- rently includes 500 vessels. • Installed industrial capacity close to the fish- sels that employ divers to catch lobster in Most fishing boats sail from the Bay Islands: ing site deeper waters using air tanks. Guanaja, Utila and Roatan. Only around 40 • A traditional market exists with the United Divers for industrial fishing operations are boats operate out of La Ceiba, on the mainland. States recruited in different villages and sail together The size of this fleet now implies the acceler- • Fishing is mainly industrial, using lobster with their assistants or helpers. Fishing trips ated exploitation of natural resources. traps and divers last approximately 11 days, during which In contrast with Belize, most lobster • Lobster fishing at greater depths each diver carries out more than 10 immer- fishing in Honduras is carried out on an • Serious social problems stemming from per- sions per day at a great depth. industrial scale (both trapper boats and the manent disabilities caused by diving diving fleets). • There is an established closed season Given the scarcity of this resource, it has • Extraction of gravid females and undersized become necessary to dive in deeper and individuals deeper waters (to a depth of more than thirty • Intensive exploitation of the resource meters) to find lobster, and increase the num- • Limited governmental capacity for control ber of dives per day to more than ten. The • Opportunity for sustainable use fostering the FORES PHOTO: CINTHYA depth and frequency of these dives exceeds gradual shift from capture by deep sea div- the limits of safe diving, and therefore many ing to other less environmentally harmful divers end up suffering from decompression practices through community-public-private accidents, leading to permanent nerve dam- sector alliances. Establishment of self-regu- age (paralysis), and often to death. latory measures on the volume of extraction The country’s total lobster production (fishing exclusion zones, respect of closed stands at more than 2.5 million pounds seasons, combating the sale of illegal under- Hyperbaric chamber for the treatment of per year. sized catches). impaired divers The communities of the Miskito Cays PRICE RANGES ing efforts in the rest of the countries of have their own dynamic, influenced by the Links in the chain the region. zoning of fishing grounds within and out- The total production of Panama and side the protected areas, closed seasons, Costa Rica represents approximately 50% the sale of undersized lobster to the local of the production of Belize, reaching a total market and rejection by the processing of just over 160,000 pounds annually. plants for not complying with export quality Unlike most of the Central American standards. countries, production in the year 2001 In addition to the obvious problem of showed a slight increase. Costa Rica’s increased exploitation of lobster resources, catch and exports are small. If we consider the activity has serious impacts on the the total national figures, the areas of inter- health of divers, who frequently extract est for this study only represent a minimal lobster from deep waters. The situation proportion of the catch (20%). The usual Food Boat is further complicated by drug use among Retailer Wholesaler Importer Plants method of catching lobster in this area is service owner fishermen. The ensuing decompression free diving. accidents have resulted in growing num- Maximum Price Minimum Price bers of disabled divers and families having to cope with the death of their main bread- Key points winners. • Lobster fishing is dominated by artisanal LA AMISTAD-CAHUITA - RIO (small-scale) fishermen Key important points 4 CAÑAS /COSTA RICA PANAMA • Fewer than 300 people are involved in this activity • Installed industrial capacity In the case of Panama, lobster fishing • 40% are exclusively engaged in lobster fish- • Traditional market in the United States occurs in a relatively extensive area, most ing, the rest combine it with other sea prod- • Large proportion of small-scale fisheries of which lies outside the boundaries of the ucts. • Extraction in deep as well as shallow waters areas of interest covered by this study. • 90% of fishermen do not have fishing permits • Major increase in the fishing effort Commercial lobster fishing in the • Mainly free diving • Closed season established Cahuita- La Amistad-Rio Cañas zone is • Lobster fishing is very small-scale compared • Intensive exploitation of the resource very small-scale compared with the fish- with the rest of the areas in the region. • Extraction of breeding females and undersized individuals • Limited governmental control • Complex social structure in the communities • Ecological dynamics of the resource linked to the management of the Miskito Cays pro- PHOTOS: CINTHYA FORES PHOTOS: CINTHYA tected area • Opportunity for sustainable use through the gradual shift from deep sea diving to other less harmful practices to the environment • Opportunity for a commercial-community alli- ance that affords the possibility of offering wholesale buyers (importers) a community success story through "codes of conduct" for responsible fishing • Required updating of regulations, quality Due to inappropriate standards and trapping technology, to mini- diving practices, mize rejection, improve operational costs and women and children take advantage of the “window” of opportu- suffer the loss of nity for quality products from the Caribbean to family members and improve sale conditions friends in Central America’s Caribbean coasts, especially in the Honduran and Nicaraguan Miskito Coast. Lobster and the market OTO: CINTHYA FLORES. PH OTO: CINTHYA

aspects of the regulations that govern the it disappears, giving way to trapping or using lobster fishing are not fully enforced due to other environmentally-friendly techniques. lack of monitoring and control. For example, Nevertheless, trap fishing needs regu- the law prohibits the extraction of egg-bear- lation and modern technology to prevent ing females; but it is well known that many damage to the environment and to the PHOTO: PROARCA/SIGMA divers catch them. In addition, the mini- fishing grounds. This requires external mum legal catch size is 14.5cm of tail, but financial support for technology develop- this rule is ignored due to the existence of a ment and technical assistance to stop over- market for illegal undersized lobster. exploitation of by existing fishing fleets the resource. In addition, strategies are required to provide employment in new production activities for individuals that In Florida, frozen lobster tails from would be left jobless. Central America are sold in retail out- Lobster is considered a In order to guarantee an adequate sup- lets starting at US$22.00 per pound and ply fo raw material, the processing plants US$32.00 and up for larger lobsters. high-value dish and market must also support this shift towards sus- Intermediaries sell these lobsters to tainable fisheries and, based on notions restaurant chains and to retailers at prices demand as well as price are of efficiency, productivity and codes of ranging from US$15.50 to US$17.00. conduct, gradually penetrate the special- The price to the end consumer is around “high end”, compared with ized niche markets to obtain commercial US$18.00, if the frozen lobster tails are benefits that could be partially transferred purchased in a supermarket, and from to the fishermen. US$27.00 to $47.00 per pound if the dish is other seafood products This could be linked to a quality assur- prepared in a restaurant. ance program to take advantage of the Given these circumstances, the uti- Although a closed season is imposed positioning of Caribbean lobster in the lization of lobster resources is a classic between March 16 and July 31 (coinciding “Premium” product segment. example of the theory of natural resource with the period of greatest reproductive Lobbying efforts are also needed to degradation, given three factors: activity), some divers continue to capture ensure greater government presence and lobster illegally. Others join diving teams in control, in order to prevent over-exploita- 1) Free access to the resource. countries where the closed season does tion of lobster fisheries and improve diver 2) Price of the resource is high in compari- not coincide with these dates. In fact, the security and social wellbeing. son to the cost of extraction. closed season is different in Nicaragua, It is important to develop a certification 3) Slow growth or replenishment of the Honduras and Belize. system or codes of conduct, with interna- resource. The scarcity of the resource is forcing tional technical and financial assistance, to fishermen to capture lobsters that have not identify commodities produced using envi- These three premises are evident in the reached the legal size. Eight small lobsters ronmentally and socially sustainable pro- case of Nicaragua and Honduras, and could are needed to complete one pound of cesses in the lobster marketing process. be starting to occur in Belize. This allows lobster tails and the local markets normally This would be key for convincing cor- us to conclude, without any need for a absorb undersized products. porate buyers and the food service to complex analysis, that the resource is being Lobster extraction by deep-sea diving with give preference to buying this “friendly” over-exploited. At the same time, some air tanks should gradually be decreased until product. East coast of the United States Commercial possibilities of live lobster OTO: CINTHYA FLORES. PH OTO: CINTHYA

The Following section describes the current dynamics of the lobster market including direct buyers, wholesale distributors, retailers and restaurants that sell lobster On the east coast of the United States, restaurants and is normally associated with imported from the Caribbean Coast the lobster market consumes and trades dif- the celebration of special occasions. of Central America into the United ferent types of lobster, the most important Lobster consumption has been grow- being cold water lobster, mainly from the ing steadily in recent years, though not States. It also assesses the level coasts of Boston or Maine (known as “Maine at a very accelerated rate. There is no of awareness of the ecological Lobster”) and the Spiny Lobster (also known perfect substitute for live lobster in the as “Rock Lobster”), from the coasts of gastronomic market at present, although and social conditions in the places Florida or imported from the Caribbean coast the product may be imperfectly replaced of Central America, South America and the by live langoustines or other crustaceans of origin of the product. In addition, Caribbean islands, except Cuba. with similar qualities. this section analyzes the attitudes The US market regards Spiny Lobster as a superior product to Maine Lobster, of this market segment towards because of its organoleptic characteristics and its consistency, which is reflected in its Demand changes such as: certification higher price. of origin of products, establishment Demand for lobster is very elastic as a function of consumer income, depending of codes of conduct and other Consumption on the particular preferences and eating habits of the populations in the areas where measures to improve conditions Lobster is considered a “gourmet” com- it is sold. Since human beings have very for the population and the trade of modity in the United States. It is not a food firmly rooted eating habits, it is considered that is typically prepared in an American unlikely that demand for this product will live lobster. home, but instead is eaten in specialized decrease in the foreseeable future. PH OTO: PROARCA/SIGMA.

Value chain

The value chain associated with lobster in Central America involves both industrial and artisanal fishermen (producers) and local processing plants, which receive the raw material, and process, pack and export it mainly to the United States, although they also supply other smaller markets. In the case of frozen lobster, east coast importers in the United States main- tain commercial relations with exporters through brokers (individual and corporate). The latter place the product with distributors who in turn sell to individual retailers such as supermarkets, seafood stores and restaurants; with large retailers who sell the have an annual income of more than seems to be attractive to new investors product to the final consumer (supermarket US$30,000. Consumers in this group who wish to venture into the market of chains or restaurants); with agents who in spend a substantial part of their income primary sector products. turn sell the product to retailers or repack- on entertainment and travel. Analyzing current market prices, it is aged for institutions (use and store). Lobster consumers in the United States clear that in this industry those with the The volume of lobster sold annually in are just now beginning to become aware negotiating power are the companies that the United States is on the order of 200 of aspects related to the sustainability of capture the lobster at the beginning of the million pounds. The United States imports a the fisheries. Out of more than 300 people chain and, at the end of the chain, the retail- total of 56 million pounds of frozen lobster associated with a market chain who were ers related with the final consumer, since annually, of which 6-7 million pounds (11- interviewed for this study, only 8 (2.7%) they are the ones that enjoy the largest 12%) originate in Central America. showed interest in the subject. profit margins in their prices. In the market- Given that the US is the world’s larg- ing chain, the lobster end consumers have est seafood consumer, major changes in a strong interest in aspects related to the Consumers attitude are required to avoid a crisis in the quality of the product, its appearance and depletion of stocks in the mid-term. the texture and flavor of the meat. There are two main types of consumers Many participants in the different mar- In general, since lobster is a luxury food of live lobster in the states along the east- ket chains for seafood products –except item, its price is not a barrier for the end ern seaboard of the United States: the final consumers– know that the growth consumers. However, price is an important 1) A small group of oriental immigrants of the world population and the demand variable in other links of the chain. Given who for cultural reasons prefer to for seafood is promoting the development the high extraction costs, the intermedia- select their seafood from live species, of farmed products, as has occurred with tion profits have gradually declined, leading to maximize their freshness and qual- shrimp. importers or larger buyers now to compare ity. Consumers in this group prefer to In the particular case of lobster, how- prices before they buy. choose the specific item of seafood that ever, this technology is not yet available The origin of the product also affects they wish to eat. They tend to be from commercially. Although various institutions prices, as lobster from some countries middle to upper-middle socio-economic have already managed to experimentally is perceived to be of better quality than groups. complete a full lobster production cycle lobster from others. Intermediaries argue 2) North Americans from western ethnic in 18 months, this system is still not very that as long as the final consumers do not groups of upper-middle and upper eco- efficient to be considered as a profitable have specific demands related to environ- nomic brackets, professionals, business alternative. mental concerns, they are not going to people and executives accustomed Live lobster is a product with a high change their practices. They believe that to eating regularly in restaurants, and price tag. In the value chain, the greatest only very aggressive marketing campaigns who often enjoy seafood. They tend profit margins are earned during the extrac- will make the public aware of this situation to be aged 25 years and over and tion phase. For this reason, the industry and demand some change. The live lobster trade

Clients in the US market are considered to have high level of bargaining power, PHOTO: WWF CENTRAL AMERICA. since they are the ones who decide what type of lobster they are willing to buy and determine the specifications of quality, nutritional content and size. In some cases, companies that have been unable to meet client requirements have been forced to apply reimbursement policies. In the case of live lobster shipments sent to intermediary clients, the lobsters that die in the process are not paid for.

The live lobster trade appears to offer an interesting solution to the problem of Central America does not yet have the tech- over-exploitation and the health hazards that nological conditions or the fishing methods affect lobster divers, since it involves the to undertake this task in a competitive way use of lobster traps. However, at present (transportation costs and mortality rates). most live lobster transactions involve cold Market research leads us to the con- water lobster from the coasts of Boston and clusion that conditions are not yet ripe for Maine, a natural substitute for spiny lobster the successful export of live Spiny Lobster for two main reasons: from Central America’s Caribbean coast 1) Prices are lower than those of spiny to the eastern seaboard of the United lobster States. Currently, we do not recommend 2) Faster logistics in process in transporta- this activity given the problems of resource tion, storage and delivery processes. over-exploitation and the injuries to Miskito In addition, certain characteristics of divers. Spiny Lobster, such as the difficulty in tak- However, in the course of this study, we ing them live from the tank with bare hands have discovered opportunities and interest and the fact that they remove some of their among those involved in the marketing own body parts (such as antennae) as a chain, in particular the following: cooperatives in which ex-divers participate form of defense, make them less attractive 1) Introduce pilot tests throughout the and benefit. to live lobster clients, in comparison with range where lobster are being captured It is also important to design and imple- Maine lobster. in areas where unsustainable methods ment a consumer information plan, in con- This suggests that the prospect of export- are being used. This will make it pos- junction with the National Fisheries Institute ing live lobsters from Central America to the sible to determine feasibility and the and some of the larger lobster distribution United States is not a viable alternative at appropriate commercial scales. chains, to jumpstart a market for the con- the moment, since it would be very difficult 2) Support the creation of a success story sumption of products that are caught with to equal the production costs and delivery in some small community by promot- lobster traps or come from a certified or logistics of the Maine lobsters. ing private sector -industry-communi- sustainable production process. Although the Asian market appears ty alliances; position the product in Another recommendation is to imple- interesting because of the prices it pays, the “responsible product“ niche (in ment special programs with famous chefs California, probably) and share the ben- in some of the major cities in the United efits to improve the community’s liveli- States (New York, San Francisco, Chicago). hood. The idea is that their restaurants would pro- 3) In the medium term, promote the use mote the distribution and sale of lobsters of the installed processing capacity for that come from environmentally friendly other seafood products such as fin fish and people-friendly processes. This effort

PHOTO: MARCO BOLAÑOS in Miskito Coast regions of Nicaragua should be complemented by providing cli- and Honduras. ents with information, either printed on This process requires technical coop- menus or posted on websites. Lobbying eration, advisory services, training and the and public relations campaigns will be nec- availability of credits under special condi- essary, as well as publicity and other pro- tions, in order to facilitate the formation of motional techniques. Trade chain for the spiny lobster Coast of Belize

Belize is located in the northern Small-scale or artisanal lobster fish- part of Central America, with an ing generates the largest incomes within area slightly larger than 22,000 Belize’s fishing industry, and has led to square kilometers, including the successful organization of two large fishing cooperatives, the Northern and the

numerous small islands (cays) AMERICA WWF CENTRAL PHOTO: near the coast. The fishing industry National Cooperatives. These enter price is the country’s third largest are responsible for the processing, packing and export of lobster tails; however, they foreign exchange generator, and also satisfy the local market, since Belizean as such a very important activity law requires them to sell 5% of their total for the Belizean economy. production inside the country. Belize does not have industrial fishing US market, currently the leading consumer, fleets, given that the offshore waters are essentially prefers Belizean lobster for its shallow with a large number of cayes and price and quality. coral reefs. The area’s geographic condi- Of particular importance is small-scale tions, which make it difficult for medium- lobster extraction using traps known as sized and large vessels to navigate, favor “casitas” (little houses) or shades. These the government’s strategy to prohibit fish- are rectangular structures consisting of a ing methods that could damage or destroy wooden frame to which a sheet of zinc, MEXICO the coral reefs. measuring approximately 1m x 1.5 m, is More than 60% of lobster fishing is car- nailed. The traps are placed on the sea floor, ried out by fishermen using traps. The rest providing a shelter that recreates the crevic- of the production is extracted by snorkelers es where lobsters naturally hide during their or “free divers”. growth phase. When the fisherman dives Although these lobster-fishing methods to inspect the traps, it is easy to lift the lid have helped the country gain a reputation and select the lobsters with the appropriate for high quality in the Florida market, sev- characteristics. eral problems threaten the sustainability of It is important to encourage a more the lobster fishery. The lack of harmoniza- generalized use of these traps, since they tion of closed fishing seasons among the provide a suitable environment for lobsters, Central American countries and the use of allow fishermen to extract them selectively Belize air tanks for diving in deep waters are two and offer the additional benefit of protect- examples. ing the coral reefs. Nevertheless, the more Belmopán Compared with the production from widespread use of this tool and its impact other Central American countries, Belizean on the ecosystem’s dynamics should also lobster has very superior characteristics in be evaluated by the scientific community. terms of the environmental and social practices under which it is extracted. In fact, the PHOTO: PHOTOSTOGO PHOTO:

GUATEMALA Trade chain of the spiny lobster La Amistad-Cahuita-Rio Cañas Costa Rica/Panama Archipelago. The production is flown to Panama City. Lobster fishermen belong to the Ngöbe and Bugle indigenous communities whose economy has traditionally been linked to PHOTO: NESTOR WINDENVOXHEL NESTOR PHOTO: agriculture and fishing. The main method used to catch lobster is free diving and hardly any fishermen have official permits or keep fishing records. Dives take place three or four times a week or on a daily basis. According to the experience of local fishermen, lobsters are “not abundant”. About 60% of the lobster fishermen earn a daily income of US$16.00 to US$30.00, while the remaining 40% receive less than US$15.00 a day. The Caribbean coast along the border Commercial lobster fishing in the between Costa Rica and Panama is Cahuita-La Amistad-Rio Cañas area is very characterized by agricultural activities small, compared with the fishing efforts (banana, cacao, coffee) and as a in the other countries of the region. In focal point for tourism development. Cahuita, fishing accounts for less than 5% of the country’s fishing effort, representing This study covers the area stretching AMERICA CENTRAL PHOTO: from Cahuita and Rio Cañas, in Costa less than 1% of fishing activity in Central Rica, to the area of influence of Isla America. In the area around the islands of Colon Bastimiento Marine Park, including the and Bastimento, in Bocas del Toro Province, Bocas del Toro Archipelago in Panama. there is more lobster-fishing activity than Less than 1% of the area’s 30,000 in the Cahuita-La Amistad-Rio Cañas area. inhabitants are involved in fishing, and Lobster is sold through a local company to a of these only a fraction is engaged in processing and export plant in Panama City. lobster fishing. The lobster catches are collected in small centers on the islands of the Bocas del Toro

Problems affecting the sustainability of this resource include: 1) Catches of undersized lobsters (3 ounces or less) in the first links of the chain. 2) No closed season has been established. 3) Absence of fishing regulations in the area. This region generates less than 20% COSTA RICA RÍO CAÑAS of the total lobster production of Panama and Costa Rica together, around 160,000 pounds annually. It is important to involve CAHUITA the entire fishing sector and the processing industries in efforts to ensure compliance with current legislation in this region, in LA AMISTAD PANAMÁ Trade chain of the spiny lobster Honduran Miskito Coast

The Miskito Coast, in northwestern Two lobster fishing methods shares in the economic benefits from this Honduras, is located in the are used in Honduras: activity. The benefits are limited to the Department of Gracias a Dios, income received by divers, boat owners where 27% of the population is 1) Fishing with traps, in which boat own- and other people associated with extrac- dependent on income generated by ers with a crew of 10 to 15 people tion in the first links of the value chain. underwater fishing. place around 3.000 lobster traps in the The absence of packing and processing lobster banks. facilities in the area makes it difficult to obtain 2) Using divers to catch lobster. This opera- greater added value for local inhabitants. tion is more complex and involves more The processing and packing plants are people: in addition to the boat captain concentrated in the Bay Islands of Guanaja, (who may also be the owner of the ves- Roatan and Utila. From here, the lobster

PHOTO: CENTRAL AMERICA CENTRAL PHOTO: sel) there is a foreman or "sacabuzos" is exported to the United States and to whose task is to recruit Miskito divers other markets, where it is considered a and their assistants, known as "cayu- "Premium" or "high end" dish. queros" or canoemen, to do the work. The external trade of lobster should Divers typically earn between US seek out wholesale “niche market” buyers $600.00 to US $1000.00 for 12 workdays who offer better trading conditions, making per month, a figure considerably higher than it possible to share the benefits with the the average per capita income in Honduras, fishermen as an incentive to adopt better which is below US $2500.00 annually. The practices. high salaries make it difficult to implement As in Nicaragua, the economic stimulus alternative fishing methods that are more of lobster fishing is present in the first links environmentally sound and people-friendly. of the chain. Nevertheless, it is essential to Nevertheless, these earnings do not com- find mechanisms to encourage more envi- In this area lobster fishing is carried pensate for the high price –in terms of ronmentally and socially friendly extraction out on an industrial scale, including both health– paid by Miskito divers, many of methods, such as the use of lobster pots in lobster trapping fleets and dive boats. whom end up with severe disabilities. controlled areas. Small-scale or artisanal lobster fishing is None of the lobster fishing methods In addition, governments and the industry not well developed, since the offshore applied in the Honduran Miskito Coast should be urged to adopt measures to control waters are very deep and there are ensure that the bulk of the population and reduce the illegal trade of this species. fewer coral reefs and cays in the coastal areas. The lobster is extracted from coral reefs that lie between the Miskito coast and the edge of the continental shelf. It is then taken to La Ceiba and the Bay Islands, where it is processed for export. PHOTO: CENTRAL AMERICA CENTRAL PHOTO:

Guanaja Roatán

Utila

GRACIAS A DIOS HONDURAS

NICARAGUA Trade chain of the spiny lobster Nicaraguan Miskito Coast In Nicaragua, lobster fishing is carried out in the Northern Atlantic Autonomous Region

(RAAN), specifically around the FLORES. CINTHYA PHOTO: Miskito Cays Biological Reserve and its adjacent areas. This is one of the regions with the greatest biodiversity in Central America and with the lowest indices of development in Latin America.

The large concentrations of coral reefs Miskito´s relationship with this resource is around the Miskito Cays form part of the based on the salaries earned by the div- coastal area, formally protected by the ers that extract lobster for the processing Nicaraguan government in 1991. In terms plants and the people who work in these of productivity, the greatest wealth in the frozen food plants. Caribbean is associated with the presence Many lobster trappers are former divers of coral reefs, mangroves and other impor- or the sons of injured divers who are well tant ecosystems, on which the regional aware of the dangers of diving. For this HONDURAS fisheries depend. reason, they prefer to risk their capital and Coral reefs interspersed with sea- invest in the use of lobster traps rather than grasses are key lobster habitats. In 1999, work as divers. Five vessels of the deep-sea lobster fishing experienced an increase of diving fleet belong to independent operators 3.5 million pounds in the volume of catch and 20 belong to packing firms. The deaths landed, 20% higher than the catch recorded of divers due to decompression sickness and in 1998. This was due to a 40% increase in the growing number of disabled divers are MISKITO the number of fishing vessels in operation. creating a negative image of lobster fishing CAYS In the years 2002 and 2003, the volume of in Nicaragua’s Moskitia region. the lobster catch totaled more than 3 mil- There are four frozen plants in Puerto lion pounds. Cabezas, each with the capacity to process PUERTO CABEZAS About 50% of the lobster fishing is on average more than 40,000 pounds of carried out by small-scale fishermen from lobster per month. There is also a trade in coastal villages, particularly Miskito Indians. illegal undersized lobster, which is trans- The lobster-fishing sector is represented ported by land or by air to Managua, or is Nicaragua by artisanal fishermen and divers. Most consumed locally. At present, the Central artisanal fishermen use wooden traps that Bank of Nicaragua sets the export price at allow smaller lobsters to escape, through $18.00 per pound. free-diving. The economic incentive that encourages The industrial fleet catches lobster by lobster fishing is present in the first links of employing divers who work with air tanks and the chain. It is important to find mechanisms dive in the deeper waters outside the protect- to promote more eco-friendly and people- ed area, to depths of up to 30-40 meters. friendly extraction methods, such as the Nearly 22,000 people from Nicaragua’s use of lobster traps in controlled areas. The Miskito region are associated with the lob- Government, with support from the industry, ster fishing industry. Although lobster is not should also adopt measures to reduce the a traditional Miskito subsistence foods, the illegal trade in undersized lobster. Better management practices for farmed shrimp PHOTO: CINTHYA FLORES. CINTHYA PHOTO:

A series of better management practices, or BMP’s, for application in shrimp farming have been designed and implemented around the world. These practices share the same basic principles and approaches, but vary in accordance with the particular characteristics of the countries or regions where they have been created.

Better management practices (BMP´s) may be grouped in three cat- PHOTO: MARCO BOLAÑOS. egories, covering social aspects, envi- PHOTO: © WWF-CANON/OLGA SHEEAN. ronmental aspects and those related to food safety: Better management practices • Compliance with local and national laws 1) Social aspect include: concerning seed imports. For example, in shrimp farming aim to prevent, sources of post-larvae, the rule of not • Compliance with current legislation mitigate or compensate for the using wild larvae should be followed. and environmental regulations. negative environmental impacts • On-site disease management should be • Community relations allowing free carried out in accordance with pre-estab- access to mangroves, fishing grounds generated by the activity, while lished protocols and, as much as pos- or other public resources. developing an environmentally sible, in conjunction with national health • Respect for workers’ rights and occu- and socially responsible shrimp authorities. pational health standards, including • Appropriate management of the storage the application of local labor codes, industry. and disposal of supplies from laborato- social security and labor regulations ries, farms and processing plants, such regarding minors. is strictly necessary to remove some as fuels, lubricants, chemicals, fertilizers, 2) Environmental factors to part of the mangrove. plastics and waste. consider include: • Appropriate management of effluents 3) BMP’s to guarantee food safety, from farms, processing plants and labo- include: • Aspects related to conservation and ratories, including definition of the quan- prevention, mitigation or compensa- tity and the quality of allowable effluents • Appropriate management of medicines tion for damage to the environment. and compliance with minimum water and chemicals, preventing the use of This includes site selection and con- quality standards drugs that are banned nationally or inter- struction of industrial infrastructure, • Appropriate management of sediments nationally. environmental impact studies and to prevent problems in water bodies and • Bio-safety, such as the management their respective environmental man- land adjacent to the shrimp farms. and treatment of sewage, residues and agement plans, and special regula- • Appropriate management of ponds, food waste. tions, such as land use plans. including aspects such as feeding, sow- • Quality control during the harvesting • Regulations such as a ban on man- ing density, aeration, water exchange and transportation of the shrimp, to grove clearing for new aquaculture rates, leak prevention to protect water prevent contamination and decomposi- operations, or reforestation when it quality and minimize the discharge of tion. The use of preservatives should be nutrients and suspended solids. indicated.