Spiny Lobster Trap Fishing

Solutions to reduce impacts from unsustainable fishing gear and practices in spiny lobster fisheries 

The PROCARIBE+ Project is supporting countries of the wider Caribbean region to reduce the negative consequences of unsustainable fishing gear and practices in the spiny lobster fishery, particularly "ghost fishing" (abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear). The project aims to develop and test on-the-ground solutions and establish provisions for countries in the region to adopt measures against ghost fishing and its negative consequences on habitats. 

Background:

The Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) is a crucial fishery product in the wider Caribbean, generating significant employment and income for 270,000 fishers across 15 countries. However, the industry faces challenges, particularly regarding the use of industrial lobster traps. While these traps contribute significantly to catch, their loss and destruction on the ocean floor has consequences for the marine environment and the sustainability of the fishery.

The use of lobster traps can aggravate the problem of  "ghost fishing” which has detrimental impacts on marine ecosystems, including habitat damage and unwanted catches of various marine species. The problem is particularly acute in the Caribbean industrial spiny lobster fishery, where an estimated 2-3% of traps are estimated to be lost annually, resulting in a significant number of ghost traps left in the marine environment.

In addition, during major tropical storms and hurricanes, estimates suggest that up to 20% of fishing traps deployed in areas affected by these events may be lost.

Despite efforts to mitigate bycatch and regulate trap design, issues like gear loss, ghost fishing, and damage to fragile benthic habitats remain concerns, and the scale and types of impacts to the Caribbean spiny lobster fishery remains largely unknown. 

PROCARIBE+ Intervention

PROCARIBE+ aims at addressing this problem by developing and testing integrated solutions (technical, socio-economic, and regulatory) to prevent or reduce the negative effects of ALDFG in the Caribbean spiny lobster fishery. 

Particularly, building from the work started under the predecessor CLME+ Project, PROCARIBE+ will address the knowledge gaps and impacts of the industrial spiny lobster trap fishery in a pilot study in Honduras.  This involves field studies to quantify the magnitude of fishing gear loss and habitat impacts, and the development and testing of pilot solutions to mitigate these impacts. The project will emphasize stakeholder engagement and aims to create sustainable and feasible solutions that benefit the Honduran fishing community.

Based on the results of the pilot initiative, the Project will aim at scaling-up the solutions to other countries of the region through the various regional fisheries mechanisms.

                                Photo: APESCA

Key Activities:

The Organization of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector of the Central American Isthmus (OSPESCA) will lead the efforts to reduce impacts from unsustainable fishing gear and practices in Caribbean spiny lobster fisheries with support from the PROCARIBE+ Project.  The project will implement a range of activities to achieve its objectives, including:

• Establishing a working group: A working group will be formed, including stakeholders from governments, the private sector, and regional and global experts, to review existing experiences and develop guidance to improve fishing gear and practices.
• Conducting a comprehensive study: A study will be conducted to identify knowledge gaps related to ALDFG in the Caribbean spiny lobster fishery, focusing on environmental, socio-economic, and regulatory aspects.
• Global knowledge exchange: A workshop will be held to facilitate a global exchange of experiences and lessons learned on ALDFG.
• Developing solutions through a pilot study: In collaboration with stakeholders in Honduras, solutions will be developed and tested to address the ALDFG problem.
• Disseminating findings and training: The project will disseminate findings and train stakeholders on innovative methodologies for identifying lost traps and promoting best fishing practices.
• Advocating for regional adoption: The project will advocate for the adoption of best practices and regional regulations to address the ALDFG problem.

Anticipated Benefits:

The project is anticipated to deliver the following benefits:

• Enhanced sustainability of the Caribbean spiny lobster fishery: By reducing ALDFG, the project will contribute to the long-term sustainability of the fishery.
• Improved socio-economic outcomes: The project will improve the livelihoods of fishers and communities by reducing the negative impacts of ALDFG on their fishing activities.
• Protection of marine ecosystems: The project will protect marine ecosystems by reducing habitat damage and entanglement of marine species.
• Increased knowledge and capacity: The project will increase knowledge and capacity among stakeholders on ALDFG and best fishing practices.
• Regional collaboration: The project will foster regional collaboration to address the ALDFG problem.