LobsterSpiny lobster (Carribean red spiny lobster)

Details

  • Latin name: 
    Panulirus argus
  • Seafood type: Lobster
  • Harvest method: Trap
  • Region: Brazil, Carribean
  • Wild/Farmed: 
    Wild
Status: 
Not Recommended

Spiny Lobster

Credit: FAO
Sustainable alternatives: 
Trap or spear caught Spiny Lobster from the US, Australia or Bahamas are sustainable seafood options.
Sustainability concerns: 
This fishery is poorly managed and extensively overfished.
Spiny lobster are most commonly sold for their tails only. Fisheries for spiny lobster exis in the US, Australia, Brazil and the Caribbean. Only US and Australian fisheries are well-managed. Fisheries for spiny lobster in the Caribbean and in Brazil are poorly managed and overfished.
Life History and Population Status: 
Spiny lobsters are fast-growing, mature early, live for 20 years and have high reproductive output. These characteristics make them inherently resilient to fishing pressure. Heavy fishing pressure in the Caribbean and around Brazil has likely lead to them being overfished in some areas. The abundance of Spiny Lobster populations is unknown.
Management: 
Management of Spiny Lobster fisheries in Brazil and the Caribbean countries is poor. Unregulated harvests, poaching and the capture of undersized and immature lobsters are all a problem.
Impact on Other Species: 
Bycatch of finfish is a moderate concern for Spiny Lobster trap fisheries. The use of undersized spiny lobsters as “bait” in traps is also a concern.
Habitat and Ecosystem Impacts: 
Habitat damage is not a major concern with the methods used to harvest Spiny Lobster.

Notes:

  • No or little concern in this area.
  • Significant concern in this area.
  • Area under study.