The Caribbean Spiny Lobster, Panulirus argus, is Belize’s largest marine export income earner.
Since the early 1990s, lobster production has remained stable (400,000 and 600,000) lbs., harvested annually. To protect its population from overfishing, certain management measures were put in place to ensure protection of breeding periods as well as young recruits. Regulations were made to protect its high peak breeding months which are March to June, hence the Close of the lobster season is from March 1st to June 30th. While the open season is from July 1st to February 28th of the following year. Regulations are also in place to protect the young recruits. When harvesting Whole lobster, the carapaces must exceed three inches in length. As for the harvesting of Lobster tail only, each individual tail must exceed 4 ounces.