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Sian Ka'an and Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserves spiny lobster

MSC status

Certified as sustainable in July 2012. 

Summary

Species:  Spiny Lobster (Panuliris argus)
Location:  The nearshore waters of the Sian Ka’an and Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserves in the coast of the State of Quintana Roo, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico.
Fishing methods:  Free diving using casitas cubanas in exclusive access parcels, and hand harvest in the reefs.
Vessels: 
Number of fisheries: 1

More about spiny lobster

The Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) populates the Western Atlantic Ocean,Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of México ranging from Bermuda down to Brazil. After approximately 6-14 months, the pueruli larvae leave the planktonic phase, and the newly settled spiny lobster (6–15 mm carapace length, CL), take shelter among the marine vegetation and mangroves within shallow bay and lagoon habitats, feeding on available small prey. After a few months, juvenile P. argus move into small crevices within the same habitat but sustain high levels of predation. As they grow larger they undertake ontogenic migration into deeper waters where adults spawn.

More about the fishing methods

The fishery under assessment is the spiny lobster fishery using free diving with casitas cubanas in exclusive access parcels within Sian Ka’an and hand harvest in the reefs in Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserves off the east coast of Yucatán, México.

Fishery tonnage

Average total catches per year:

Sian Ka'an  220 MT
Banco Chinchorro  60 MT

Commercial market

Yucatan spiny lobster fishery products are sold regionally for the tourism sector in Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, and other markets in the Yucatán Peninsula. A small percentage is sold across Mexico and exported into the USA.

Actual eligibility date

1 July 2012

 

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