St. Thomas Lobster Committee

Recommendations for

Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) Management

Committee Formed on July 22, 2014

• Voting Members:• Winston Ledee-----Chairman• Warren Querrard—Vice Chairman• Julian Magras-------Secretary• Daryl Bryan• Tony Blanchard • Claude Berry• Thierry Ledee• Edmund F. Bryan• Brett Querrard• CC Kregelo • Ricky Laplace• Mark Quetel• Gregory Ledee

• Non-Voting Members:

• Marvin Bryan• Joel Questel• Theresa Questel• Michael Berry

• Advisors:• Tony Iarocci • Roy Pemberton• Bill Arnold

Trap Types in Use

Common Features

• Escape Panel• 8” by 8”• Biodegradable component composition

-jute twine-16 gauge non-galvanized wire-top entrance constructed of plastic, wood, or wire include

• Biodegradable wood lid

Existing USVI Regulations

• All Commercial Fishermen:

• 3.5” carapace length• Must be landed whole• No spear fishing, hooks, gigs, or chemicals

• Recreational:• Daily harvest limit = 3 per person with no more

than 10 per vessel

Importation Rules

Minimum weight: 6 oz (170 g) tail meat weight, range = 5.9 – 6.4 oz (167-181 g)

Minimum tail length: 6.2” (15.75 cm)Minimum carapace length: 3.5” (8.9 cm)

Law Enforcement Interactions

For Discussion

Other Topics to Consider

Annual Catch Limit considerations

• Use more recent data (present ACLs based on data through 2008)?

• Rationale for reducing or eliminating “buffer reduction”?

• Can we set ABC above the mean or median landings?• Is the ACL needed for spiny lobster (i.e., is minimum

size limit adequate to sustain the resource)?• How to handle individual years of very low or very high

landings (i.e., landings variability)?

Other Topics to Consider

The fishermen would like the CFMC to adopt the use of 16 gauge non-galvanized wire for fish traps also instead of the jute twine. Rational behind this is with modern technology (GPS) very few traps are lost and this non-galvanized wire rots away quickly (3 weeks). The lobsters, crabs and olewife are just eating away at the jute twine.

Other Topics to Consider

The Fishermen of the USVI are also requesting a permitting system for the EEZ to be put in place for the entire Trap System. We are willing to discuss with CFMC the ideas we have and begin a dialog on how it can be done.