Nicaragua Lobster
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Nicaragua Lobster

  • Species Name: Spiny lobster (Panulirus argus)
  • Location/Region: Nicaragua EEZ, Caribbean Sea
  • Gear Type: Traps
  • Volume: 1,740 MT (2020 whole weight - Trap only)

© Mac Stone/ WWF-US
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Nicaragua Lobster

Entered MSC Assessment: September 2022
Last Updated: September 2022

Nicaragua is the largest producer of Caribbean spiny lobster in Central America. The fishery generates approximately $40 million dollars annually from exports, mainly to the United States. Thousands of Nicaraguans earn a livelihood through the fishery, from vessel owners and fishers to packing plant employees.

After working for several years with WWF and key partners on a fishery improvement project (FIP), the Nicaragua spiny lobster trap fishery entered the MSC full assessment process in September 2022 to achieve certification, a process which can take up to 18 months.
Critical issues that the FIP addressed included: the likelihood of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing that weakens management of the resource and equitable access for local livelihoods and lack of new or improved data on stock status, bycatch, and habitat impacts from lobster traps.

Since 2012, the active involvement of FIP Stakeholders, including the Nicaraguan Institute for Fisheries and Aquaculture (INPESCA), and FIP Participants helped drive improvements against the MSC standard.

A spiny lobster in Spanish Wells, Bahamas

© Mac Stone/ WWF-US


Goals Achieved

FIPs provide a step-by-step approach to bring fishery management practices up to the MSC standard. With support from FIP participants and FIP stakeholders, the FIP achieved several important goals that enabled it to enter assessment for MSC certification, including:

  • Completing the first-ever bi-national stock assessment to determine the health of the lobster stock shared between Honduras and Nicaragua.

  • Improving fishery data in Nicaragua to include the composition of the artisanal fleet, fishing effort, landings and estimates of IUU fishing.

  • Establishing a Bi-National (Honduras & Nicaragua) Spiny Lobster Working Group to ensure robust data collection to feed into the development of the bi-national stock assessment.

  • Reviewing and documenting the bycatch, habitat, and ecosystem impacts of the fishery.

  • Working with Nicaraguan government to officially adopt the lobster management plan which includes measures to address IUU fishing and was updated with input from fishing communities.

  • Updating and implementing the Nicaragua spiny lobster harvest control rules.

FIP PARTICIPANTS

We encourage action across the supply chain to support FIP progress. A FIP Participant is an industry member that is part of the seafood supply chain for the FIP product and is actively engaged in supporting the FIP.

  • Costco Wholesale

  • Hyatt Corporation

  • Mark Foods

  • Sysco Corporation

  • Tequesta Bay Foods, Inc.

  • The Kroger Co.

How Can I Become a FIP Participant?

A FIP Participant is an industry member that is part of the seafood supply chain for the FIP product (e.g., retailers, food service providers, suppliers, manufacturers, etc.) and is actively engaged in supporting the FIP. WWF-US encourages support of FIP participants, and will acknowledge FIP Participants on our sustainable seafood website and in other communications regarding our FIP work.

To be considered by WWF-US as a FIP Participant the participating entity is expected to follow the WWF-US FIP Participant Policy.

For more information about what a FIP is and how you can play a role, please contact info@nullseafoodsustainability.org.

Get Involved

Become a FIP Participant

By signing on to support a FIP you are joining forces with other leaders in the industry that seek to help conserve marine ecosystems, protect livelihoods, and increase the number of sustainable fisheries and the overall supply of sustainable seafood.

SUPPORT A FISHERY

© Antonio Busiello | WWF-US