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 
Utilization of Artificial Reefs for Enhancement of Spiny Lobster Resource
Hiroaki Terashima*1, Monique Calderon*2 and Makeba Felix*2
IC Net Limited. Member for the Project for Strengthening Sustainable Use and Management of Coastal Fisheries Resources in the CARICOM Countries (COASTFISH)*1
LA Tower 27 F., 11-2 Shintoshin, Chuo-ku, Saitama-shi, 3306027, Japan.
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Department of Fisheries, Saint Lucia*2
Pointe Seraphine Castries Saint Lucia
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ABSTRACT
The Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus found in the western Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico is a highly valued commercially important species, which is considered a delicacy in the world. In order to manage and conserve the resource of this species, many countries in the region have legislated for fishing restrictions, including minimum size limits, closed seasons, and fishing quotas. However, in several countries, the resources have still faced significant declines owing to overfishing by poaching, habitat destruction and climate change. In order to improve this situation, Japanese aid agencies have implemented an artificial reef project as demonstration tests for development of the nursery ground to enhance the spiny lobster stock. The Overseas Fisheries Consultants Association (OFCA) implemented a model project at St. Vincent and the Grenadines from 2003 to 2005 with the aim of increasing the Caribbean Spiny Lobster stocks, providing technical guidance and lectures to the Fisheries Division through the installation and monitoring surveys of artificial reefs. Subsequent intermittent monitoring observed a large number of spiny lobsters aggregating on artificial reef designed to attract the spiny lobster. In 2020, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) then launched the Project for Strengthening Sustainable Use and Management of Coastal Fisheries Resources in the CARICOM Countries - COASTFISH Project. One of the pilot activities is to deploy an artificial seaweed and an artificial reef combined for development of the nursery habitat for juvenile spiny lobster, and already juvenile spiny lobsters were found on the artificial reef. In this pilot project, local fisherfolks, MPA rangers and officers of the Fisheries Department worked together to develop and monitor the artificial reefs that are inexpensive and easy to install. Such efforts are being made with reference to the "satoumi activities" that are being carried out in coastal areas of Japan.
HOW TO CITE: Terashima, H., M. Calderon and M. Felix, 2026. Utilization of Artificial Reefs for Enhancement of Spiny Lobster Resource. Contribution 6.9, p467-480 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=939
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