Tag:
Florida Stone Crab
Community and Society
Queen Conch and Stone Crab seasons opening on Sunday, October 1st in Belize
On Sunday, October 1st, the Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) and the Florida Stone Crab (Menippe mercenaria) fishing seasons officially open. In the case of the Stone Crab, of which only the claws are harvested, the season will close on June 30, 2024, while the Queen Conch closing season is the same as the Stone Crab’s. The season will close if the conch production quota is filled earlier.
Business & Economy
The Blue Economy promotes the sustainability of stone crab claws harvesting in Belize
The stone crab’s claws have become a delicacy in gourmet restaurants with increasing demand in areas such as Ambergris Caye off the northeast coast of Belize. A plate containing 1 1/2lb of cooked stone crab claws sells for up to US$42.50. The value of the overall industry, as per the Belize Fisheries Department (BFD), was around $125,000 for the local market. However, this number is expected to increase as exporting stone crab claws to other markets in the United States and the Caribbean starts.
Environment
Closure of the Florida Stone Crab Fishing Season
The Fisheries Department - Belize takes this opportunity to inform all fishers and the public that in accordance with the Fisheries Resources Act and Statutory Instrument No.108 of 2022 the Florida Stone Crab (Menippe mercenaria) fishing season is declared closed from July 1st to September 30th, 2023.
Community and Society
Stone Crab season goes into effect in July 2023; only licensed fishers allowed to fish
On August 16th, the Belize Fisheries Department and the Ministry of the Blue Economy announced new legislation to implement the country's first-ever season for the Florida Stone Crab. The closed season was set from July 1st to September 30th, mandating that no stone crab fishing was supposed to occur. Several fishers protested that they were not aware of this new law. On Thursday, August 25, the Fisheries Department issued an update that the closing season would not go into effect until 2023.
Environment
New regulations introduced for fishing stone crab; season established
The Belize Fisheries Department, Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation takes this opportunity to inform the fishing community and the public of the new requirement for the Florida Stone Crab fishery as per Statutory Instrument No. 108 of 2022.
