We are going to miss you panulirus argus - closure of the lobster season.

CLOSURE OF LOBSTER SEASON ADJUSTED TO MARCH 1ST-JUNE 30TH

The Fisheries Department takes this opportunity to inform fishers and the public that the Caribbean Spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) season will close on February 28, 2021. This decision made by the Honourable Minister Andre Perez is in accordance with the Fisheries regulation 24A (1).

The close season for Spiny lobster will now be from March 1st to June 30th in any year. The changes in the close season for Belize is also in accordance with the harmonized regional lobster regulation (OSP-02-09) implemented by the Organization for Central American Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector (OSPESCA).

Any person found in possession of lobster during the said closed season will be prosecuted in accordance with Section 3(1) (b) of the Fisheries Regulation, Chapter 210 of the Subsidiary Laws of Belize Revised Edition 2000-2003.

The Fisheries Department also reminds fishers that lobster traps should be removed from fishing grounds during the closed season. The Department will be actively enforcing the removal of traps from the waters during this period.

The public is advised to report any illegal fisheries activity by calling telephone number: 224-4552 or by email: [email protected]

2020-2021 Lobster Season: 700K Pounds of Lobster Tails

As the season comes to a close, the Fisheries Department reports that lobster production is up for the 2020-2021 period, with seven hundred thousand pounds of lobster tail processed. According to Fisheries Officer Mauro Gongora, the lobster sector is stable and has been performing well. Annually, lobster brings in revenues of just under thirty million dollars for the country.

Mauro Gongora, Fisheries Officer, Belize Fisheries Department

“In 2020, lobster production was almost seven hundred thousand pounds of lobster tails, which means that we are well above the five year average which is in the range of six hundred and twenty-five thousand pounds more or less. So, when you look at this year and when you compare to the five year average, we are doing pretty well and it is around twenty percent increase over that five year average. But in general the lobster fishery of Belize has been relatively stable over the last thirty years and production has ranged between four hundred thousand pounds and six hundred thousand pounds. So, the tails for this year, well 2020, I should say, of six hundred and ninety-seven thousand pounds is well above that average over the last thirty years. So, last year for example, earnings from the export of tails ranged something close to thirteen point five million US dollars, so you are talking twenty-six to twenty-seven million Belize dollars from the export of lobsters.”

Channel 5

Why change the season dates? Here's from Kennedy Carrillo: ''This decision is based on the call from the fisher folks and because Belize has always been two weeks out of sync with the other OPESCA countries. Now our schedule is synchronized with the other countries in the region and fisher folks have the two more weeks that they believe can help them in these difficult economic times.''