ENDANGERED FISHERIES

The spiny lobster is one of Jamaica's most prized culinary delicacies, often prepared either grilled, with garlic sauce, or with a curry sauce. Lobsters fetch a high price, usually somewhere between US$10 and US$20 per pound at local grills and restaurants, and as high as US$40 per plate in many tourist establishments. The sustainability of lobster harvesting depends on allowing the creatures a safe period for reproduction, which has been acknowledged in Jamaica by the Fisheries Division in the Ministry of Agriculture and Land with a ban on harvesting between April 1 and June 30. It is crucial that visitors to the island respect this ban and in so doing support efforts to ensure that lobster populations are kept at a sustainable level so the delicacy can continue to be enjoyed in the future. Some establishments serve what is said to be frozen lobster during the closed season. Regardless, it's best to avoid ordering it during this period to be on the safe side and avoid adding incentive to any potential shortfall of integrity on the part of restaurateurs and anglers. The Fishing Industry Act of 1975 makes it illegal to catch lobster during closed season and also puts a general ban on landing undersized lobster (under 76.2 mm, or 3 inches) and those bearing eggs, throughout the year. As the Fisheries department has struggled in recent years under financial constraints, it's imperative to be supportive in the effort to curb illegal harvesting. Conch (Strombus gigas) is also protected from over-fishing and has a closed season from July 1 through October 31.

Jamaican waters are also becoming severely over harvested where finned fish are concerned. It's best to avoid buying fresh fish smaller than six inches unless it's a type of fish that doesn't grow to a larger size. The median size of the catch brought in from traditional line fishing and spear fishing in waters close to Jamaica's shores has decreased noticeably over the past decade. The situation becomes clear when snorkeling along Jamaica's coastal reefs as few large fish can be seen today, and snapper, once common, are increasingly scarce near to the shoreline.