Anguilla 
Antigua and Barbuda 
Grenada 
Bahamas 
Barbados 
Belize 
Dominica 
Guyana 
Haiti 
Jamaica 
Montserrat 
St. Kitts and Nevis 
St. Lucia 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines 
Suriname 
Trinidad and Tobago 
Turks and Caicos 
Update on the Status and Management of the Caribbean Spiny Lobster Fisheries in the CARICOM Region
Maren Headley, Milton Haughton, and June Masters
Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) Secretariat
Princess Margaret Drive, Belize City, Belize
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ABSTRACT
The Caribbean spiny lobster fishery is one of the most commercially important fisheries in the region. In 2011, a baseline review on the status and management of the spiny lobster fishery was completed for the CARICOM region. The baseline review identified a number of critical steps that need to be taken towards ensuring the long-term sustainability of Caribbean spiny lobster fisheries. These steps included: i.) Improved data collection and regional standardization of data types; ii) Harmonized regulations at the sub-regional level; iii.) Review and reform governance systems at local, national and sub-regional levels; iv.) Assess and control the illegal lobster fishery. This paper seeks to determine the extent to which the critical steps identified in the baseline review have been achieved and identify current gaps and opportunities for improving management of the spiny lobster resource. The paper also provides an update on the resource status, management objectives, and current regulations for the lobster resource in 17 CRFM Member States. Current landing trends, exports volumes and monetary values are also provided by CRFM Member countries.
HOW TO CITE: Headley, M., M. Haughton and J. Masters, 2026. Update on the Status and Management of the Caribbean Spiny Lobster Fisheries in the CARICOM Region. Contribution 6.5, p428-438 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume I: Technical Papers. Presented at the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference, 28-31 August 2023. CRFM Special Publication No. 37, CRFM Secretariat https://www.crfm.int/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=935
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