It’s that time of year again: let our local lobsters reproduce!
Every year from March 1 to June 30 the capture, sale and consumption of the Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) is prohibited in Panama. Central American and Caribbean nations have agreed to this policy to enable the annual undisturbed reproduction of the species in benefit of marine ecosystems.
There are two exceptions to the ban: restaurants can serve registered frozen stock harvested prior to March 1 and the people of the Ngäbe-Buglé comarca are allowed to engage in sustenance fishing.
The ban hasn’t been strictly enforced in Bocas in recent years. For example, if you go to Playa Estrella there is usually a restaurant with live lobster displayed in a trap, ready for customers to choose.
Photo taken at Playa Estrella on March 18, 2023, during the ban.
Whether or not authorities are interested in enforcement, they haven’t had the resources. According to a 2022 interview with ARAP, there was only one official inspector for the entire province and the institution was not equipped with a functioning boat.
If you speak with older Bocas locals who have been diving for lobsters prior to the early 2000 tourism boom, they will probably tell you the local lobsters of today are tiny in comparison. The population seems seriously threatened and for that reason some residents even choose to abstain from lobster consumption year round.
The Bocas Breeze recognizes that the lobster trade is the primary source of income for many, though we encourage restaurants and consumers to respect the ban. The point of the ban is not only to protect the local ecosystem, but the sustainability of the lobster trade for future generations.
We hope those fishermen can supplement any lost income during these months. One opportunity that stands out is lionfish. Lionfish is an invasive species decimating Caribbean reefs (even eating baby lobsters). If more restaurants begin to offer lionfish, perhaps it will incentivize lobstermen to hunt lionfish during the ban.
Bocas Sushi is locally famous for consistently offering a lion fish roll (besides having delicious delivery sushi all around). Order yours here +507 6734-8884Joan Crabtree of Cosmic Crab has been an early and consistent advocate of “eating the enemy” year-round and especially during the lobster ban season.
Cosmic Crab, Bibi’s on the Beach and The Floating Bar have been known to serve it in the past. Do you know of a restaurant serving lionfish? Let us know!
Help spread the word about this issue by sharing this article and our flyers on social media. If you are interested in printable files, get in touch +507 6537-0405 or editor@thebocasbreeze.com.
To report a violation of any of the seasonal bans to ARAP, here is what you need:
1. Photo or video evidence
2. Name of the business or individual (first and last name)
3. Present the evidence and names physically to ARAP office, on the second floor of City Hall (next to the Simon Bolivar park, Isla Colon).
Note:Caribbean spiny lobster is not the only species protected with a seasonal ban. Below is the full list of protected species and the corresponding dates to the seasonal ban.
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