News of The Abacos

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The Spiny Lobster
Charlene Fernander

Having a sweet-mouth as Bahamians say, I've never met a lobster, spiny or otherwise that I did not like. Let me diverge a bit to count the wayssoused, with onions, potatoes, celery and a hunk of johnny-cake; broiled in a tangy lemon-butter sauce and served with tender asparagus spears; baked or barbecued with new potatoes; boiled, then cut into chunks for salad or dipped and swirled into a cheese fondue or deep-fried in crispy bread crumbs and served as fingers (salivating, yet?). The spiny lobster or craw (cray-) fish, as it is popularly known, is the species of this shelled delicacy which does not have the distinctive oversized claws (biters) that its larger, better-known cousin has often been hunted for.

Crawfish season in the Bahamas is the period, August 1st­March 31st annually. Seasons are basically in existence to encourage the continued growth and prosperity of certain creatures, to let them have a chance to replenish themselves, rather than allowing the indiscriminate and merciless slaughter by man which would lead to extinction. Crawfish can be found in abundance during this season all over the waters of the Abacos, but there are regulations enforced by the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries, with the able assistance of the Police Department, to ensure that said regulations are strictly adhered to.

The basic regulations regarding the harvesting and sale of crawfish:

1.) That no person shall take, have in his possession or sell any crawfish which measures less than 3-1-4" from the base of the horns to the end of the jacket or which, if the tail is served, has a tail measurement of less then 51-2", not including any protruding muscle.

WEBMASTER'S NOTE: The fisheries folks in the Abacos don't kid around in the enforcement these laws!! Due, in part, to the rapidly diminishing supplies (partially as a result of over-fishing) of this delicacy, the catch LIMIT and catch SIZE (of individual crawfish) are VERY strictly enforced. In the month of October (1998) two "lobster infractions" were recorded in the Treasure Cay area -- one committed by a "local" and one by a visitor. Both were actually jailed, and ultimately fned upwards of $2,000 per infraction. Please take your crawfish measuring (ad counting) VERY seriously!!

2.) That licensed vessels must hold valid fishing permits and carry a measuring stick or gauge aboard for the obvious purpose.

3.) That the legal common method of traps used to catch the lobsters must conform to the legal standard... a 2'x2' square with wooden slats on each end through which sea water can escape as the trap is being hauled out of the water. The traps are to be registered with the Department of Fisheries.

Officers of the Department of Fisheries, with the aid of any deputized public officer (the Police would always assist on the sea) are authorized to search (at random) and size vessels and-or the catch of any lawbreakers. Penalties for infractions against fishing regulations can be heavy and are considered well-deserved. If we expect our descendants to know what crawfish are, we must protect these crustaceans from complete and utter destruction.

Crawfish can generally be found in shallow areas among weeds and grasses or out on the reefs, where they prefer to spawn. Mating occurs between 3 and 5 years of age (during the "closed season"). The female carries her orange-coloured eggs on the underside of her lower body until the babies are ready to hatch (when the eggs darken in colour) and then venture out on worms , shrimp, small fish and other tiny seafood and, in turn, are eaten by larger fish (turbots), octopuses and, of course, people.

The spiny lobster ranges in colour from pale browns and yellowish-tans to darker, mottled browns and reddish-browns, but are always identified by the four spots of white colour on the topside of their tails and the profusion of spines or whips along the front and sides of the carapace. It is thought that the differentiation in colour assists them in camouflaging themselves against predators (lighter colours when they are young and live in sandy areas and darker colouring when they are older and move out onto the reefs-much like human ways of dressing).

During the season, changes in the tides appear to affect the migratory habits of the lobster and, according to local Abaco fishermen, you can see them "walking along the beach, holding hands". The crawfish join to each other "whip" to tail in a long curving line following the "queen" at the front end. These lines can be unbelievably long as thousands of crawfish would attach themselves for the procession and are a sight I intend to see.

I wish to acknowledge Assistant Fisheries Officer, Mr. Wayne Cornish for his contribution to this article.