Caribbean Spiny Lobster

FB11-107: NOAA Fisheries Service Announces New Regulations for Reef Fish, Queen Conch, Spiny Lobster, and Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates in the U.S. Caribbean

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2011 Caribbean Annual Catch Limit Amendment

 

2011 Caribbean Annual Catch Limit Amendment
	Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)
	Final Rule
	List of Species

 

• The minimum carapace length should be 3.5 inches.
  
  
• Lobsters must remain whole for landing at shoreside.
  
  
• Egg-bearing ("berried") female lobsters may not be retained aboard the vessel. Berried female lobsters may be kept in pots or traps until the eggs are shed.
  
  
• Spears, hooks or any other piercing devices are prohibited.
  
  
• Use of poisons or explosives is prohibited.
  
  
• Buoy, boat and trap identification and marking according to regulations are required.
  
  
• Self-destruct fastenings on panels and doors of traps are required.
  
  
• Pulling of another person's legally marked traps or pots without owner's permission is illegal, except by authorized officers.
  
  
• It is required that traps have one escape panel with a degradable fastener, which could be the door.
  
  
• It is required at least one buoy that floats on the surface for all traps/pots fished individually for all fishing vessels that fish for or possess Caribbean spiny lobster in or from the EEZ.
  
  
• It is required at least one buoy at each end of trap lines linking traps/pots for all fishing vessels that fish for of possess Caribbean spiny lobster in or from the EEZ.

Please Note: This summary is intended to provide appropriate information to fishers about regulations and the sustainable use of marine fishery resources in the Caribbean.  This summary is for general information purposes. Fishery Regulations are subject to changes. For more information on fishery regulations consult the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 622 or the NOAA Fisheries Service Southeast Regional Office Fishery Regulation website.