spiny lobster ​fishery yucatan

Local fishermen along the coast of Yucatan have been catching Spiny Lobster for decades. Supplying the US bulk market for lobster tails, fishermen have been catching lobsters by spearfishing, while a whole lobster, left intact and connected to certain markets, can create a 2-3 times higher value for fishermen than just its tail.

Spearfishing does not allow for effective compliance with minimal size limits nor for leaving egg-carrying females alive. Also, divers are exposed to serious health hazards and safety risks.

Blueyou’s program aims at introducing lobster traps as key driver for improved sustainability and creating higher value for the fishery. Undersized lobsters and egg-carrying females can be released – keeping stocks at healthy levels.

Catching lobsters by traps, allows for landing lobster alive and commercialize whole lobsters. Whole lobsters offer more value to the fishermen, creating incentives and supply chain leverage to respect fisheries regulations and support transition towards sustainability and economic viability.

Lobster fisheries can safeguard healthy stocks by respecting minimum size limits and releasing female breeders. The switch from spearfishing to trap fishing creates the basis for more effective management and enforcement.

Combating illegal and unregulated fishing activities along the coast of Yucatan is another priority of Blueyou’s fisheries transition program.

By catching lobster alive, new market opportunities for whole frozen lobster are being developed and explored, shifting route-to-markets towards a more diversified, resilient market pattern.

Driving up-side value and safeguarding healthy lobster stocks is key for sustaining incomes and livelihoods for coastal fishing communities on the Yucatan peninsula.