TODAY is the deadline for Jamaicans to declare their possession of spiny lobsters to National Fisheries Authority (NFA), before the start of the closed season.

Between April 22 and June 30, 2024, it will be illegal for anyone to have any species of the spiny lobster, or the crustacean’s parts or products, in their possession without special permission.

Chief executive officer of the NFA Dr Gavin Bellamy, in a statement late last week, underscored that people are prohibited from harvesting lobsters during the closed season, which officially began on April 1.

“You may consume, sell [or] give away lobster for the first 21 days of the closed season. But you must, by the 7th of April, declare that you have legally caught lobsters in your possession,” said Bellamy as he pointed out that the closed season exists to enable the sector’s sustainability, by giving lobsters a chance to breed and repopulate.

“Whether the spiny lobster is fresh, frozen, or in any other state, all such and/or by-products may be seized and persons or entities deemed liable will be prosecuted under the Fisheries Act, 2018, and attendant regulations,” added Bellamy.

Last year St James businessman Jordan Bingham was fined $100,000 after a quantity of lobster was discovered in his Rose Hall, St James restaurant outside of the prescribed fishing season.

His lawyer, Jermaine Campbell, told the court that his client had the lobster before the closed season, but was unaware that he could have the date of the lobster recorded with the appropriate authorities. That, however, did not stop the court from imposing the fine.

Jamaicans may seek special permission for storage of any spiny lobster or spiny lobster products during the period April 22 to June 30, 2024.

These products would have to be declared as lawfully fished before the commencement of the closed season, where the aim is to make the lobster available for the domestic or export markets.

“If you are not going to consume or dispose of all the lobsters in your possession by April 15, you need to apply to the NFA to get permission to store this lobster until July 1, 2024,” said Dr Bellamy.

This request should be sent to the NFA by April 15. Requests should describe the product being stored
— whole, tailed, or meat; a statement or intent that the product will be stored, sold overseas, or exported; and bear the name and address of the intended approved storage facility, accompanied by a valid export licence.

The applicant will have no access to the lobsters in storage until July 1, 2024, when a formal release from an approved or authorised facility is granted by a fishery inspector.