The 2015 National Spiny Lobster Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) two day meeting was held at The Bahamas National Trust on Village Road, Nassau Bahamas on May 19 and 20th, 2015. This was the sixth national meeting that focused on the progress and challenges made to date and next steps forward. Persons, organizations and agencies that participated in the meeting include The Nature Conservancy, the Bahamas MArine Exporters Association (BMEA), the Department of Marine Resources ( DMR), MRAG LTD., Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), government representatives, The BEST Commission, The Bahamas National Trust, Friends of the Environment, Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF), The College of the Bahamas, fishermen, exporters and buyers from across the Bahamas Archipelago. Outcomes of the meeting will be circulated widely to the FIP core team upon review and completion of meeting notes. However the primary matters and concerns that were raised included the level of illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing in the country and efforts to curtail this problem; understanding the benefits of attaining the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC-seafood certifying body) certification; the steps that have been taken to achieve the MSC certification in the country; and outreach and education efforts to inform and engage fishermen, exporters, conservation organizations and government representatives in the lobster FIP.
If you wish to learn more about the Bahamas Lobster Fishery Improvement Project visit: https://sites.google.com/site/fisheryimprovementprojects/home/bahamas-lobster
