The Caribbean spiny lobster fishery is economically and ecologically important, yet 36% of all Caribbean spiny lobster landings are considered unregulated.

This innovation will create a multi-disciplinary and participatory approach to enhancing the sustainable exploitation of this fishery, using The Bahamas as a model of best practice.

The University of Exeter will develop a novel genetic tool based on population structure data for Caribbean spiny lobster and its connectivity across the region, contributing to the critical sustainable management of wild stocks and stock enhancement programs. They will work directly with fishers to transfer the latest global grow-out aquaculture technology and management, and co-design small-scale grow-out operations for spiny lobster.

The University of Exeter will also engage with fishing communities as well as policymakers to raise their awareness of the importance of this fishery, the conservation challenges it faces, and the need to sustain science- and aquaculture-based solutions to ensure long-term ecological and socio-economic benefits to the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

IMPLEMENTATION STATUS: Progress summary as of November 2022 (PDF)