Report on the Spiny Lobster Fishery: Summary of Fishing Activity for the 2021-2022 season

Abstract

Spiny lobsters (Palinuridae) are amongst many marine species with great commercial importance for small-scale fisherman. In Seychelles, the spiny lobster has traditionally been managed as a seasonal closure and limited access (license-limited) fishery. The lobster fishing season usually opens for 3 months. This report presents analyses of the fisheries-dependent data collected from the spiny lobster fishery during the 2021/2022 fishing season and makes comparison between previous fishing seasons. To achieve this, data collected from fishers and sampled Catch and Effort logbooks were used. Statistical analyses to compare sizes between the previous seasons for Panulirus longipes (Long-legged spiny lobster) and Panulirus penicillatus (Pronghorn spiny lobster) were performed. Results for 2021/2022 season showed that snorkeling was the predominant fishing method used. A decrease in both the total catch (1.87 MT) and the number of fishing trips (103 trips) was observed compared to the two previous seasons. In terms of fishing sites, Mahé remains the most dominant area for both total catch (1.29 MT) and number of trips (72 trips) amongst the major fishing sites. A decrease in the number of trips (CPUE) was observed. For the 2021/2022 season, female, and male carapace length (CL) size were mostly constant compared to the two previous seasons. Overall, the data analysis for 2021/2022 season indicates that there was a decline in lobster’s relative abundance, most probably attributed to lobster fishing season being open for three consecutive fishing seasons. The CPUE has decreased by 27% compared to the previous season. The 2022 fisheries independent survey will be conducted during the last quarter of the year to establish the changes in the relative abundance of lobsters.