FishSource

Brazil red and green lobster - trap (FIP)

Last Updated: 2023-12-06

Progress Rating: A

Evaluation Start Date: 2013-04-01

Type: Comprehensive

Status: Active

FIP Lead: SINDIFRIO (S), Centro Desarrollo y Pesca Sustentable (CeDePesca)

Stock Profile Link
Caribbean spiny lobster - Northern Brazil
Smoothtail spiny lobster - Brazil

Comments:

The Ministry has published an ordinance that now includes diving as a fishing modality. With this new change in policy reported, the FIP becomes A rated.

1. FIP Development	Feb 19	Fishery assessment or scoping document made public 18 February 2019 — Clarification on how MSC PA Scores were transitioned by CeDePesca from MSC CR v.1.3 to MSC CR v.2.0 1 June 2012 — Fishery evaluation public on FishSource 15 February 2012 — MSC pre-assessment made public
2. FIP Launch	May 12	Confirmation of project participants 1 May 2012 — Various processor/exporter association (SINDIFRIO) members are participants of FIP
2. FIP Launch	Mar 18	Workplan made public 12 March 2018 — Workplan for 2018-2023 1 June 2017 — Annual workplans approved by FIP partners: 2017-2018 (in Portuguese) 1 March 2016 — Workplan updated March 2016 1 April 2013 — 2014 Workplan made public
3. FIP Implementation	Jul 23	FIP activities undertaken 12 July 2023 — The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture (MPA) formally requested the FIP to provide them with stock assessments conducted by the FIP which will serve as inputs for the revision of the lobster fishery management plan. 28 April 2023 — The Ministry of Fisheries (MPA) and the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MMAC) published Interministerial Ordinance MPA/MMAC highlights that actions will be developed by the MPA to improve monitoring and a review of the lobster management plan will be carried out. 28 April 2023 — MPA/MMA No. 3/2023 issued which modifies select articles of Portaria No. 221 to include adjustments to the size limits for lobsters, specifying different measurements for different years and species. 1 March 2023 — A review of the red and green lobster stock assessments has been conducted; the review concluded that there is an urgent need for a recovery plan. 1 February 2023 — The FIP participate in the 1st management committee meeting for the lobster fishery; the committee meeting discussed the need for a quota and data collection program and created a working group to outline fishery regulations. At the meeting, diving was approved as a means of catching lobster via ordinance MAPA Nº 1.448. 31 January 2023 — The Brazilian government implemented a measure prohibiting the sale of lobster within the country's domestic market during the last 3 months of the closed season; the measure remains effective until April 30th. 16 September 2022 — Ordinance SAP/MAPA No.1,274 published; members have been appointed to the Permanent Management Committee (CPG) of lobsters 1 September 2022 — The results of the CSA and methods used were presented by the FIP at the XIX Latin American Congress of Marine Sciences-COLACMAR 2022. 20 April 2022 — Ordinance No. 221 updated, amending articles 7, 10 &12 which includes an update to the minimum lobster size. 1 May 2021 — The seventh stock assessment was completed and made publicly available with recommendations 16 April 2020 — Normative Instruction implemented suspending IN 54/2019 due to the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). 1 January 2020 — The sixth stock assessment was completed and made publicly available with recommendations 29 October 2019 — In October, CeDePesca participated in the 2st and 3st Cycle of Lobster Fishing Quota Debates 21 August 2019 — 1st Cycle of Lobster Fishing Quota Debates 1 July 2018 — The working Group for quota, met for to discuss the mechanisms for implementation and control of a Total Allowable Catch. 1 June 2018 — The Secretary of Aquaculture and Fisheries reconvened the Permanent Committee for Lobster Management and FIP partners were invited to participate. 1 October 2017 — CeDePesca visited the Control Point at Redonda to collect data corresponding to the Traceability Program 1 September 2016 — Letter presented to Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food in Ceará, to be forwarded to Secretary of Aquaculture and a Fisheries, with the third assessment report and requesitng the resumption of the work conducted by the Scientific Subcommittee and the Permanent Committee for Lobster Management (CGPL) 1 July 2016 — Third Stock Assessment report with recommendations issued 1 May 2016 — SINDFRIO provided exports data for the 2015 fishing season to update the stock assessment 1 March 2014 — Annual export data per size collection from the exporters was initiated and provided to IBAMA-Ceara 1 May 2012 — Meeting with the Secretary of Fisheries Management at MPA (Flavio Bezerra) and collaborators was held in Brasilia in May 2012 to discuss the findings of MSC pre-assessment and improvements needed
4. Improvements in Fishing Practices and Fishery Management	Sep 23	Verifiable improvement in policy/management and fishing practices 1 September 2023 — The Ministry has published an ordinance that now includes diving as a fishing modality. 16 April 2022 — Increase to PI 2.4.3; FIP's three-year audit has provided new information in regards to main habitats 24 January 2022 — Ordinance SAP/MAPA No. 554 was published establishing the Internal Regulations of the National Collaborative Network for the Sustainable Management of Fisheries Resources 29 June 2021 — Decree Nº 10.736; establishment of the Rede Nacional Colaborativa para a Gestão Sustentável dos Recursos Pesqueiros- Rede Pesca Brasil - a technical working group and 10 permanent management committees 28 June 2021 — Ordinance SAP/MAPA Nº 221; establishment of the rules for the management, monitoring and control of fishing, transport, processing, storage, and marketing of Panulirus argus, Panulirus laevicauda and Panulirus echinatus. 10 May 2021 — Ordinance SAP / MAPA Nº. 159 published setting general rules and organization of fishing vessels permits 29 December 2019 — Increase in BMT score 1.2.1; The Normative Instruction 54/2019 was published, determining that harvesters and dealers deliver only whole lobsters to processing plants with a tolerance of 5% for tails.Legal instrument also includes two measures which together can prevent the irregular fishing practices during closed season, use of prohibited fishing gear and likely reduce fishing effort in closed season 11 April 2019 — Official decree suspended all the Permanent Management Committees (CPGs) along with established guidelines, rules and limitations - governement reforming CPGs with focus on fisheries and sustainability 1 December 2017 — Management measures promoted by the FIP adopted : (a) adoption, as of 2019, of a management system based on a Total Allowable Catch of 4,000 metric tons for red lobster and 900 metric tons of green lobster; (b) prohibition of the marketing of lobster in the domestic market during the last 4 months of the fishery closure, and (c) as from 2019, lobster must be delivered alive to processing plants. 19 October 2017 — Government of the State of Ceará, through its Secretariat of Agriculture, Fishing and Aquaculture (SEAPA), SINDFRIO and CeDePesca signed a Collaboration Agreement to implement a project aimed at further developing and improving the live lobster production chain in Ceará and its traceability. 16 May 2017 — Fourth stock assessment report completed and presented to CGPL - stock assessment includes export data. 8 March 2016 — Renewal of agreement to implement management measures for 2016 - signed by SINDIFRIO 11 June 2015 — Improvement in MSC PI 3.1.2 - the Management Committee for the Lobster Fishery agreed that lobster must be delivered alive to processing plants as of 2017, and domestic trade of lobster during the closure season will be strongly limited 1 June 2015 — Traceability scheme implemented by fishers 1 September 2013 — Bureau Veritas drafted and delivered a set of documents (specification conditions, Evaluation and Compliance of Brand, and Inspection reports and audit), constituents of the two initial phases of traceability program 1 June 2013 — Bureau Veritas delivered the first report about building a traceability system for legally caught lobster
5. Improvements on the Water	Apr 21	Verifiable improvement on the water 28 April 2021 — Increase in PI 2.4.1; According to the results of the CSA, it is considered unlikely that the unit of assessment is altering key elements of habitat structure and function to a point where serious or irreversible damage would occur 1 February 2017 — Improvement in MSC PI 1.1.1 - fourth stock assessment published with the current status recovering from previous situation 1 January 2016 — Improvement in MSC PIs 2.1.1 and 2.2.1 - primary and secondary species quantified and identified
6. MSC certification (optional)	—	MSC certificate made public