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Lobster, Caribbean Spiny

(Brazil, Wild-caught)

Rating:
Caribbean spiny lobster in the U.S. market comes from a number of sources. It is important to check where your spiny lobster comes from. "Avoid" Caribbean spiny lobster from Brazil. Caribbean spiny lobster from Florida is your "Best Choice," while Caribbean spiny lobster from the Bahamas is a "Good Alternative."

Market Names:
Caribbean Spiny Lobster, Red Lobster, Warmwater Lobster

Summary:
Spiny lobster lacks the large front claws of the typical American (Maine) lobster, but has a thick, muscular tail. Its thick shell is protected with an array of spines, earning the common name. Spiny lobster is typically found on the seafloor in tropical, semitropical and temperate waters, hiding among rocks, seaweed and coral.

Caribbean spiny lobster in the U.S. market is imported from a number of countries, including the Bahamas and Brazil. A domestic fishery also operates in Florida. Vast differences exist among all these fisheries. The U.S. fishery in Florida is characterized by strict guidelines, attentive management and extensive scientific assessment and is a "Best Choice."

However, Caribbean spiny lobster fisheries in Nicaragua, Honduras and Brazil are plagued with issues. Lobster in these regions is often overfished, captured before reaching reproductive maturity or is caught illegally. Additionally, limited data about population health and abundance are available to determine wise fishery management practices.

U.S. Caribbean spiny lobster is the "Best Choice."

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