It is time for regulators to adopt a minimum size requirement for Spiny Lobsters harvested from the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and the South Atlantic, according to the US National Fisheries Institute (NFI).
In a letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Management Service (NMFS) NFI writes, “[a minimum size] allows a higher percentage of lobsters to reach sexual maturity before they are harvested, helping ensure the sustainability of the fishery.”
Lobster importers have urged regulators to adopt mandatory size and weight restrictions like the voluntary ones recently enacted by Darden Restaurants Inc.
“Responsible members of the seafood community see these types of rules as key to protecting the lobster resource,” said Stetson Tinkham, NFI’s Director of International Affairs. “Some importers have adopted their own strict requirements, but it’s important that all importers are on board with this effort.”
The Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils, in cooperation with NOAA Fisheries Service are currently considering amendments to the Spiny Lobster’s fishery management plan.
