MONTEGO BAY, St James — A man found with lobster out of season was fined $50,000 or 10 days in jail for violating Jamaica’s Fisheries Act.

Herbert Galloway was found with a spear gun and 1¾ pounds of lobster on May 10 on Jimmy Cliff Boulevard. He appeared in the St James Parish Court on Wednesday, before presiding Judge Diahann Bernard. During the proceedings, Judge Bernard emphasised the seriousness of the offence, noting that breaching the closed season carries fines of up to $3 million or possible imprisonment.

The closed season for Caribbean spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus), enforced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, runs annually from April 1 to June 30 to protect breeding populations and ensure sustainable fishing practices. During this period, it is illegal to catch, buy, sell, or possess lobsters, including berried or undersized specimens.

The Ministry of Agriculture stresses that enforcement of the closed season is critical to maintaining lobster populations, which are a key economic and ecological resource in Jamaica. Violations are treated seriously to protect the sustainability of the fishing industry.