Start of the Spiny Lobster Season 2021-2022

#TurksandCaicos, August 17, 2021 – The 2021-2022 Fishing Season in the Turks and Caicos Islands, kicked off with a “bang”. Fishers were observed leaving the docks in the early hours of the morning and returning in the late afternoon with boat loaded with Spiny Lobster.

A total of 21,159 pounds of Spiny lobster were landing with 15,032 pounds in South Caicos and 6,127 pounds in Providenciales. When compared to last year’s first day of fishing season with 8,372 pounds (bad weather), the 2021-2022 first day of the season has been highly productive. The Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources Management observed very little lobster that were not of legal size with less than 0.3% of the overall catch undersized. Average landings per vessel were 480 pounds per vessel. The catches ranged in quantity, but the largest amount of landings by one vessel was in South Caicos with 1090 pounds landed by Mr. Conrad Kennedy. The second largest landing by a vessel was by Mr. Ernest Rigby’s vessel, captained by Victor Louis, with a total of 1089 pounds.

Hon. E. Jay Saunders, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Human Services, Hon. Josephine Connolly, Minister with responsibility for Fisheries and Hon. Matthew “Jay” Stubbs accompanied the Fisheries and Marine Resources Management (FMRM) Providenciales enforcement team comprising of Director Ms. Thecla Joseph, Deputy Director Mr. Henry Wilson, Assistant Director Law Enforcement Mr. Levard Missick, Captain/Senior Officer Mr. Idi Gardiner and Senior Officer Mr. Paul Dickenson on patrol of the Caicos Banks to observe the operations in ensuring that fishers adhere to Fisheries regulations.

Commenting on the opening of the season, Hon. Connolly stated “we are very happy to announce the opening of the new season to fishers and the general public. We advise to continue to laisse and cooperate with Department of Fisheries and Marine Resource Management to ensure that the supply of these resources remains sustainable for future generation.”

Hon. Stubbs stated “as a Government, we are working with FMRM to see how best we can assist our Fisheries patrol team by providing them with the necessary tools as they continue to deal with issues especially on the opening of the lobster season.” Hon. Saunders also commented that “Preservation of our natural resources is in keeping with the goals of our administration, and therefore we hope that fishers and other relevant stakeholders will work with Government during the season to ensure that the supply remain sustainable in the future”.

The Director of FMRM, Ms. Joseph, in her message “We are committed to enforcing the regulations as it pertains to the lobster season, we will hope that all relevant parties cooperate with the department to avoid penalties or fines as to the laws. The department encourages all persons involved in the harvesting of lobster to remain safe to prevent the loss of life or damage to property.”

The FMRM would like to remind fishers of restrictions relating to crawfish, as per Section 15 of the Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Ordinance 5 of 1941), as amended, are listed below:

Crawfish size restrictions are as follows:

When whole, a length of 3.25 inches measured from the front of the groove between the horns directly above the eyes, along the middle of the back to the rear edge of the back shell; or

When the tail has been separated, a tail weight of 5 ounces whether processed or not;

Fishers are not to be in the possession of any egg-bearing crawfish;

Fishers are not to remove eggs from egg-bearing crawfish;

Fishers are not to take or be in possession of moulting / soft-shelled crawfish or crawfish in early stages of spawning (described as appearing ‘tar-spotted’); and Fishers are to ensure that the crawfish are landed unharmed and whole after being taken and landed at processing plants or at home, unless processed at sea as per the terms of the processing license.

Fishers, and Fish Processing Plants are further reminded to adhere to all COVID-19 guidelines and protocols regarding handling and processing of all lobster products.