Thursday October 22, 2009, 1:41 am
Almost 11.5 tonnes of lobster was fished between 7 August and 8 October in the Galapagos Marine Reserve (RMG), according to a Fisheries Monitoring Process report by the Galapagos National Park (PNG) Directorate.

Some 9,165. 61 kilograms of red or pronghorn spiny lobster (Panulirus penicillatus) and 2,322.11 kg of green spiny lobster (Panulirus gracilis) were captured In the first two months of the fishing season, which concludes next 13 January.

The fishery will be opened for 160 days, or until the maximum catch quota established – 30 metric tonnes of red or pronghorn spiny lobster – is reached.

No quota was fixed for the fishing of green spiny lobster.

The following data was registered In the three ports authorised for lobster tail landings:

Ayora Port, Santa Cruz: 4,115.41 kg;
Villamil Port, Isabela: 3,691.39 kg;
Baquerizo Moreno Port, San Cristobal: 3,680.92 kg.
In addition, 98.12 kg of lobster tail were seized, for different reasons: they did not fulfill the set minimum size for capture, which is 15 cm; they were pregnant or presented signs of having had their pleopods (abdominal legs) brushed or cut, Periodico de Negocios del Ecuador reports.

The minimum catch size was fixed at 26 cm in length overall, from head to tail, and tail size at 15 cm

Fishers who target lobsters should be registered in the PNG and be in possession of the original copy of their valid license, which accredits them as artisanal fishers of the Marine Reserve.

Meanwhile, the inspections carried out by the PNG Directorate to confirm that the pronghorn spiny lobster fishery within the RMG fulfills the regulations established is not limited solely to monitorings of the product in landing wharves, nor to inspections made at fishing sites, but also involves raids with the Environmental Police in seafood restaurants and other retail sites.

During the last raid undertaken, 16 commercial establishments at Ayora Port were inspected.

In four of these establishments, lobsters that did not fulfill the minimum size for capture were indeed found, as were pregnant lobsters and those that had had their pleopods cut or brushed.

Related article:

- Lobster capture authorised for 160 days in Galapagos
http://www.fis.com/fis/worldnews/worldnews.asp?l=e&country=0&special=&monthyear=8-2009&day=10&id=33390&ndb=1&df=1

Thursday October 22, 2009, 2:19 am
Thanks for this article, Claudia.

Thursday October 22, 2009, 2:45 am
Noted & posted in Oceans. thanks

Thursday October 22, 2009, 3:00 am
The inspections were made and what happened afterwards. Who paid who to keep fishing lobsters?

Thursday October 22, 2009, 3:21 am
Ooooh, not good. Leave the lobsters alone, especially those pregnant ones.

Thursday October 22, 2009, 4:27 am
thanks clauda

Thursday October 22, 2009, 4:45 am
Terrible this is the problem they think getting one or two is nothing but if it keeps happening eventually the species gets into trouble!
Thanks Claudia

Thursday October 22, 2009, 6:07 am
raping the planet again, sad............thanks Claudia

Thursday October 22, 2009, 10:23 am
Thannxxx ... this is just tooooooooooooo much.. no matter what the quota...

Thursday October 22, 2009, 11:40 am
These precious islands are treasures of biodiversity and should be protected from all commercial fishing. This is sick. It is dreadful. This is where Darwin discovered the principles of evolution. I am shocked and quite ill over this dreadful news. Thanks, Claudia, for letting us know that there is no place on earth that commercial intesests do not rape.

Thursday October 22, 2009, 1:54 pm
It won't be long before the only thing left in the oceans will be sunken ships...

Thursday October 22, 2009, 2:08 pm
As long as sustainable quotas are enforced where is the problem ?

If the fishermen want to take the quota in the first few days, then so be it - that will also make it much easier to enforce.

Thursday October 22, 2009, 3:40 pm
my god!! what the hell do you do with 11 tonnes of lobster??jeus have these people have no brains in there head at all??and theres still what,two or more months left to rape and pillage?? cause that's what there doing to the ocean,never mind what effect were having on the Galapagos themselves!oh it's there lets rip it all out,of course then we'll have to move on to destroy a new area and deplete another species.i thought the people who were looking after the islands were supposed to be knowledgeable and care??bullsh-t!they just want the tourist $ like the fishers want the fish and lobster.so how do look into your grandchilds eyes and say i remember when there were thousands of lobsters and they swam free!we are so the most destructive spiecies on this planet,and why something or someone doesn't wipe us from this beautiful planet were bound to destroy ,i don't know!!thanks Claudia

Thursday October 22, 2009, 5:38 pm
What to do with 11 tons of lobster ? - Eat it of course. What else ?

Crustaceans are fine healthy tasty nutritious food for people.

Thursday October 22, 2009, 10:17 pm
So, how much warm butter would you need to go with that?????

Friday October 23, 2009, 4:49 am
Is no place sacred from the greed of man!

Friday October 23, 2009, 8:22 am
You really have no idea huh Carl ????
And that is called ignorence.Maybe get more educated about this
before stating this is sustainable

Friday October 23, 2009, 11:45 am
"What are you going to do with 11 tonnes of lobster?"

How about leave them be. That's always one possibility.

Friday October 23, 2009, 5:42 pm
The why don't you educate me an post the data decumenting why you consider it unsustainable - or do you just view it as an axiom that any harvesting is unsustainable ?
It is not as if Panulirus penicillatus is listed by the IUCN or anything.
The responsible Ecuadoran authorities have judged that a 30 ton qouta is sustainable. And being well aware of the value of the Galapagos islands as a cash cow from high end tourism they are very deliberately protectiong the nature attracting the tourists. Ecuadorans can't just move there whenever they want and there is a fixed qouta for how many tourists they will let in.

But who knows - maybe they are mistaken. If you have data from a reputable source (Sea Shepheard isn't) indicating otherwise then please share them.

30 tons of lobster is about one lobster per inhabitant on the galapagos islands. It is not really that big an amount - about what fits in the holds of 2-3 small cutters.

Friday October 23, 2009, 11:47 pm
I thought the Galapagos was supposed to be off limits to hunters and fishmongers.

Monday November 9, 2009, 12:43 pm
i thought that too roseann no place is safe it seems