Lobster fishing season re-opens |19 December 2013

The lobster fishing season for 2013-2014 re-opens tomorrow, December 20, for a period of one month, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) have announced.

The season will remain open until January 20, 2014.

The lobster fishery was opened for three consecutive open seasons 2010-2011, 2011-2012, and 2012-2013 after being closed for two years to allow the stock to recover from overfishing.

The total catch for the 2010-2011 season was 2.40 tonnes compared to 3.30 tonnes for the 2011-2012 season, and 2.11 tonnes for the 2012-2013 season.

The total catch over the last three seasons were below the historical mean catch of 4.38 tonnes.   

It was observed that fishing effort remained stable over the last two fishing seasons; however, the total catch decreased.

Based on the fishery stock status survey undertaken this year and in order to reduce further pressure on the stocks, the lobster fishing season will be open for only one month compared to the traditional three-month period as a precautionary measure.

Similar to previous fishing seasons, the spiny lobster will be controlled through the level of fishing effort as well as size limits (7.5 cm) with no harvesting of egg-bearing females.

As a measure to ensure sustainability of the resource, a limit of 20 licences (12 on Mahé, 5 on Praslin and 3 on La Digue) will be issued to fishermen.

Anyone wishing to purchase a licence will need to do so through the licensing officer at room no. 303 at the SFA. This will be done on a first-come first-serve basis as of now.

A compliance bond of R1,500 will be applicable prior to the issuance of licence by SFA for this harvesting season compared to the R5,000 applicable in past seasons.

The deposit will be refunded in full to the licence holder on the condition that logbooks and receipt books (records of sales) are fully completed and submitted to the SFA by the due date and the caliper for measuring of the lobster are returned at the close of the season.

As usual, the SFA will be undertaking its normal lobster monitoring and data collection programme implemented since 1992, so as to ensure that there is compliance with the law and to maintain proper management of the resource on the Mahé plateau.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and the SFA are once again calling on members of the fishing community and catering establishments to comply with the regulations.

Customers are urged to purchase lobsters only from licensed fishermen and to report any breach to the SFA (Tel: 4670300) or to the nearest police station.

Any person harvesting lobsters without a valid licence could be prosecuted and fined up to R10,000 if found guilty.