FIRMS - Fishery Fact Sheet - Saint Lucia Sea urchin fishery

Saint Lucia Sea urchin fishery

Fishery Fact Sheet

WECAFC Fishery Resources Report 2020

Saint Lucia Sea urchin fishery

Sea Urchin fishery

Owned by

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) – more>>

Related observations

Overview: The regulations prohibit the harvesting of sea eggs during 9 months of the year (December 1 to August 31), but even during the remaining three months they can only be harvested with the written permission of the Chief Fisheries Officer.

Location of Saint Lucia Sea urchin fishery

Map legend

Geographic reference: Saint Lucia
Spatial Scale: National
Reference year: 2018

Approach: Fishing Activity

Fishing Activity
Fishing Gear: Gear nei
Type of production system: Commercial; Artisanal
Fishery Area: Saint Lucia

Seasonality: August to November

Harvested Resource
Target Species: Sea egg

Means of Production
Vessel Type: Other fishing vessels

Fishery Indicators
Production: Landed Volume; Ex-vessel price

Table of Contents

Overview - Fishing Activity - Post Harvest - Management - Status and Trends - Source of Information - Bibliography

Fishing Activity

Type of production system: Commercial; Artisanal

Fishery Area

Climatic zone: Tropical. Bottom type: Seagrass; Coral reef. Depth zone: Coastal - Close shore, littoral (0 m - 20 m). Horizontal distribution: Littoral. Vertical distribution: Benthic.

Geo References

Target Species

Tripneustes ventricosus

FAO Names : en - Sea egg

Vessel Type

Other fishing vessels
Harvesters target this resource by skin diving and collecting urchins by hand off the seabed; divers may swim directly offshore or use a vessel to facilitate harvesting.

Crew

3-4 skin divers.

Flag State

Saint Lucia

Fishing Gear

Gear nei
Hand collection from skin diving.

Related Fisheries - Fishery(ies) switching activity seasonally or targeting the same stock

Saint Lucia Whelk fishery

Seasonality

August to November

Environmental limitations

Critical habitats for sea urchins are steadily being destroyed by the impacts of poor land use and management practices. High levels of sediment reaching the nearshore, especially during heavy rains, have resulted in the destruction and degradation of some critical sea urchin habitat.

Ports

Laborie, Micoud, Dennery, Vieux Fort.

Fisherfolks Community

Saint Lucia nationals

List of fishery Indicators

Fishery Indicators

Type	Measure	Value	Unit	Time period
Production	Landed Volume	0.529	tonnes	1995
	Landed Volume	0.931	tonnes	2001
	Landed Volume	8.73	tonnes	2002
	Landed Volume	8.46	tonnes	2003
	Landed Volume	2.56	tonnes	2004
	Landed Volume	1.35	tonnes	2009
	Landed Volume	22438 (lbs of roe)	tonnes	2015
	Landed Volume	5461.6 (lbs of roe)	tonnes	2016
	Landed Volume	1003 (lbs of roe)	tonnes	2018
	Ex-vessel price	6.667	USD	1995
	Ex-vessel price	22.593	USD	2001
	Ex-vessel price	213.855	USD	2002
	Ex-vessel price	128.087	USD	2003
	Ex-vessel price	48.309	USD	2004

Post Harvest

Markets

Local

Management

Management unit: Yes

Jurisdictional framework

Management Body/Authority(ies): Fisheries Department of Saint Lucia

Mandate: Management.

Area of Competence: Saint Lucia

Maritime Area: National waters.

Management Regime

Management Methods

National regulations; with focus on Effort control, Fish size limits; - Binding

Co-management arrangement in place; minimum test size for a given harvest period based on pre-harvest population surveys; no harvesting in any marine reserve; use of SCUBA prohibited; all Sea urchins to be brought to shore for breaking and processing; all harvesters and cleaners to provide data on sizes, weights and/or number to Department of Fisheries upon request.

Aquatic species-related measures
Minimum fish size
Gear-related measures
Use of SCUBA is prohibited.
Fishing activity-related measures
Closed season and area (fishing in marine reserves is prohibited); harvest period usually between August and November and varies considerably in duration depending on pre-harvest population surveys conducted by the Fisheries Department.

More information on fisheries legislation at: FAOLEX legislative database

Status and Trends

The sea urchin fishery is seasonal based on abundance after a density survey is conducted.

Source of Information

Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Food Production, Fisheries, Co-operatives and Rural Development, Saint Lucia. Personal communication, July 2020.

http://www.malff.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=55

Bibliography

De Beauville-Scott, S. 2008. St. Lucia National Sea Egg Country Report. January 2008. Department of Fisheries. 12 pp.

Fisheries and Resources Monitoring System