With lobster season opening on Tuesday the Department of Environment reminds everyone of the regulations for taking certain marine creatures in the Cayman Islands. People should not purchase local conch and lobster over the limit as that encourages poaching. The goal of these regulations are to have sustainable recreational fisheries for everyone.

Lobsters

1) Open season is December 1st to February 29th.

2) Catch limit is 3 per person or 6 per boat per day, whichever is less.

3) Minimum size is a six inch tail length.

4) No taking lobsters from Marine Park or Replenishment Zones.

Conch

1) Open season is November 1st to April 30th.

2) Catch limit is 5 per person or 10 per boat per day, whichever is less.

3) Purchase limit (for conch from Cayman waters) is 5 conch per day.

4) No taking conch from Marine Park or Replenishment Zones.

Grouper

1) It is illegal to take Nassau grouper from the grouper holes until the end of March.

2) The minimum size for grouper is 12 inches.

Whelks

1) Open season is November 1st to April 30th.

2) Catch or purchase limit is two and one-half gallons of whelks in the shell or two and one-half pounds of processed whelks (out of their shell).

3) Bleeding teeth, chitons (sea beef) and periwinkles may not be taken at any time.

Anyone seeing anyone poaching marine life should call 911. Or,

* Grand Cayman: 916-4271

* Cayman Brac: 926-0136

* Little Cayman: 926-2342

Copies of the conservation rules, including marine parks maps, are available online (http://www.doe.ky) or by email (mailto: [email protected]).

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