The lobster fishery in Nicaragua is being assessed by the MSC

The main problem faced by Nicaragua in its attempt to obtain MSC certification is the presence of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which weakens resource management and prevents equal access to the resource for the thousands of Nicaraguans who make a living from fishing. Typically, the country exports 2,000 metric tons of lobster worth US$40 million (€37 million). Other challenges facing fisheries covered by FIP include a lack of new or improved data from the artisanal fisheries sector, which reduces information on stock status, by-catch and impact of lobster traps on their habitat. Another uncertainty jeopardizing the certification of the MSC fishery is that the lobster fishery in Nicaragua is jointly operated with Honduras, and the assessment must take into account the activities of both countries in order to achieve unconditional passage under the MSC standard. However, the fishery has achieved several goals under FIP, including the completion of the first ...