Conservation officers make a massive lobster tail bust on Thursday, one day before Lobster Season opened

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: The lobster season started today, however, on Thursday, the Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association (TASA) conservation officers made what TASA terms a ‘massive bust’.

“Yesterday, before the start of the lobster season, our conservation officers made a massive bust in which four persons were charged for lobster possession outside of the approved season,” said TASA in a social media post.

“Our officers were on their routine patrols when they noticed a vessel carrying four individuals. Two remained on board while the others were in the water for approximately an hour. Around 6:40 pm, our vigilant and highly skilled conservation officers intercepted the vessel, and upon inspection, they found 37 lobster tails on board.”

TASA said the four men were transported to Belize City to be taken to court.

“We are incredibly grateful to our officers who work diligently to ensure compliance with our fisheries regulations. Fishers are encouraged to abide by the existing laws and regulations to assure continuity of our natural resources.”

The Lobster Season started today and runs until February 28, 2023.

The Belize Fisheries Department said the Lobster Fishery Regulations require the following:

The minimum carapace length is 3 inches
The minimum tail weight is 4 ounces
No person or establishment should have in possession any diced or fillet lobster
It is illegal to have any soft shell (molting) Lobster or females with eggs (berried)
It is illegal to remove from any female lobster, any eggs or spawn or the setae or fiber to which any eggs or spawn are or have been attached.
The closed season for Caribbean Spiny Lobster will be from March 1, 2023, to June 30, 2023.

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