Lobster in Dominican Republic 2024-2025

Caribbean spiny lobster or Panulirus argus lives in mangrove swamps and on reefs in the western Atlantic Ocean. Being popular seafood in the region, lobster is the essential food export of the Bahamas and rivals the shrimp business in the Florida Keys in commercial value. They are collected by sport divers and commercial lobstermen in South Florida, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and, of course, the Caribbean.

Since 2010, there has been a strict ban on fishing for lobsters from March 1 to June 30, in the Dominican Republic,. This period is known as a lobster breeding season. Thus, July to February is the time to treat yourself to a platter of delicious lobster.

The lobster off-season was brought in because these poor crustaceans started suffering from overfishing and poaching and definitely needed an intervention to bring their numbers back up to a sustainable level. The law prohibits capturing, fishing, processing, and mass possession of lobster. This means that it's not aalowed for restaurants to serve lobster during the off-season at all. For consumers, this also means no eating lobsters. Even if you see it on a menu and think no one’s looking.

Everything caught has to be thrown out or consumed within 20 days of the ban coming in. Violators meet fines of up to $50,000 USD and up to 10 years in prison. But are a few months without eating lobster a problem for you? Just arm yourself with patience and you will eat one later!