Call For Lobster Closed Season

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Environment Articles

Monday, 30 April 2012 02:30

By Everton Barnes

Antigua St John's - A well-financed Chinese middleman's entry into the lobster industry has increased fears of over-fishing of the commodity, and led to calls for the enforcement of a closed season for harvesting.

The call came from President of the Antigua and Barbuda Fishermen’s Cooperatives Society (ABPCS) Leonard Mussington at the end of April, the start of the traditional closed season for lobsters across the Caribbean.

“Antigua & Barbuda is the only Caribbean territory without a regulated closed season for lobsters, although fishermen have been observing the season through their practice over the years,” Mussington explained.

However, he said the Chinese businessman, whose entry has caused alarm, may bring an end to this practice that has been observed for generations from the end of April to July.

The ABFCS president said this period is important in the developmental stages of lobsters, as they spawn and mold.

According to Mussington, the Chinese are not engaged in fishing, but they have offered lucrative contracts and equipment to at least 20 fishermen and have encouraged them to fish for lobsters even during this period.

“Not only are the Chinese offering to purchase lobsters during the closed season, they are offering to pay an extra $1 per pound of lobster during the period,” he explained.

He said under the contracts signed with the Chinese, each fisherman gets 20 rolls of wire; each roll produces 10 lobster pots. “There is a potential for an additional 2,000 pots catching lobsters, and I fear that in a very short time, over-fishing may kill off this fragile industry,” Mussington said.

He noted that Chinese businessmen also got involved in Belize and other territories, and soon after they arrived, there was an acute shortage of lobsters. Mussington wants steps taken to prevent a similar occurrence in Antigua & Barbuda.

The ABFCS official said attempts have been made to harmonise fishing regulations in the sub-region since 1996, and all of the other states have abided by the region-wide regulations.

Local hotels have already complained that they have had to drop lobsters from their menus due to a shortage. Mussington said the Chinese want to fill two 40-foot containers with lobsters by the end of the July, leaving very little available for local consumption.

The Antigua Hotel and Tourist Association has already penned a letter to Tourism Minister John Maginley expressing concern about this development.

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