Management Plan - Glover's Reef Marine Reserve

Economically Important Species
There are two invertebrate species of
commercial importance to the Glover’s Reef
fishery - the Caribbean Spiny Lobster
(Panulirus argus) and Queen conch (Strombus
gigas) (Figure 34), both of which are fished
extensively throughout Belize.
The Caribbean Spiny Lobster fishery is the
largest capture fishery in Belize, with production
representing over 40% of total capture fisheries
production in 2006, and an export value of
US$7.37 million (Fisheries Department, 2007)
Lobster landings peaked in 1981 at 2,204,622
lbs, but have fallen to 457,680 lbs in 2006
Glovers Reef Marine Reserve – Management Plan
Figure 34: Caribbean Spiny Lobster (Panulirus
argus)
Photograph: Glover’s Atoll Resort
(Fisheries Department, 2007). It is significant to note that the total national lobster production
over this period has declined by almost 25%, and there are concerns for the continued
sustainability of the lobster fishing industry.
Number
Of
Lobster
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
15-34 35-54 55-74 75-94 95-114 115-134 135-134
Size class (mm)
Figure 35: Survey data for lobster (February 2006) (Fisheries Department, 2006)
Conservation Zone
General Use Zone
Results from the 2006 survey of the lobster population using the Field Protocol for Monitoring
Coral Reef Fisheries Resources in Belize (2003 edition) show that more lobster (both male and
female) were recorded from the Conservation Zone (30 individuals overall, vs. 22) (Figure 35).
Of those lobster considered legal (with a minimum carapace length of 3 inches / 76.2mm), the
majority were recorded from the Conservation Zone (Glover’s Reef Annual Report, 2006).
Results such as these show that when effectively implemented, the Conservation Zone does
work in protecting the resource, allowing for spill-over to repopulate the General Use Zone.
Whilst there is continued optimism that lobsters are being harvested at a sustainable level
(Gillet, 2003), there is, however, also concern that the average size per lobster appears to be
declining, and the catch per fishermen is no longer sufficient to support a fisherman and his
family (anecdotal reports, Sarteneja, 2005). During community consultations with lobster
fishermen, more than one participant stated that they felt that there would not be sufficient
Wildtracks / Wildlife Conservation Society, 2007 44