The 2026–2027 Spiny Lobster Season is off to a strong start, with more than 35,000 pounds of crawfish landed across Providenciales, South Caicos and Grand Turk during the first three days of the season.
The season officially opened on Saturday, August 1 and will run through March 31, 2027. According to the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources Management, 66 commercial fishers, 37 commercial vessels and 27 foreign fishing assistants were licensed for the new season. Fishers wasted no time getting to sea on opening day, with vessels departing from landing sites in Providenciales, South Caicos and Grand Turk in the early hours of Saturday morning, despite challenging weather conditions.
South Caicos recorded the largest landings during the opening period, with 25,681 pounds reported over the three days. On opening day alone, 37 vessels in South Caicos landed nearly 15,000 pounds, averaging about 415 pounds per vessel. The largest individual landing over the opening period was 1,369 pounds. Providenciales recorded 8,488 pounds over the three days, while Grand Turk recorded 1,215.4 pounds.
Overall, reported landings totaled 35,384.4 pounds between Saturday and Monday, although Monday’s South Caicos figures were still being compiled.
The strong start comes as the fishing industry continues to play a significant role in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ economy, supporting fishers and their families, as well as processors, exporters and restaurants. The opening also required a significant presence from fisheries and environmental officers.
In South Caicos, the first vessel departed at 4:05 a.m. on Saturday, with officers from the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources Management and the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources on the docks from 4 a.m. until the final vessels returned. In Providenciales, officers monitored landing sites at Cooper Jack, Chalk Sound and Provo Seafood, remaining on site until 8 p.m.
Compliance checks also formed part of the opening weekend operations. Authorities reported that the majority of the catch inspected was within legal limits. However, officers in Providenciales seized 32 undersized and 15 moulted crawfish, along with an estimated 13 pounds of undersized and nine pounds of moulted crawfish the next day. Despite those seizures, the department described the amount of non-compliant product as a small fraction of the overall landings.
Hon. Zhavargo Jolly, Minister of Tourism, Environment, Fisheries and Marine Affairs spoke the opening of lobster season. He said
“The opening of the spiny lobster season is always a proud moment for the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the early results show that this season looks very promising. This fishery sustains livelihoods in every island community, and the strong start we have witnessed is a testament to the skill and dedication of our fishers. This Government will continue to support the sustainable livelihoods of our fishers, the food security of our islands and the good nutrition of our people, and remains committed to managing this resource responsibly so that it continues to provide for generations of fishers to come.”
“The Ministry commends the fishing community and the officers of the DFMRM for a safe, orderly and productive opening. The level of coordination across our landing sites reflects the professionalism of the Department and the strength of its partnership with fishers.”
The ministry also expressed how dangerous fishing can be, sharing that the rewards of the opening days came with real risk. Fishing is widely recognised as one of the most dangerous occupations in the world, and the adverse conditions under which fishers worked this weekend are a reminder of what they face each time they leave the dock.
Throughout the opening period, land and sea Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) operations were carried out in collaboration with the DECR and the Department of Maritime, providing a strong interagency effort to support fisher safety and protect invaluable ocean resources. During at-sea monitoring, control and surveillance operations over the opening period, a fishing vessel’s engine became unserviceable, and the DFMRM patrol vessel towed the vessel and its crew safely back to shore on 01 August 2026.
On Monday, 3rd August, the IVMS proved its worth in real time. The device provided accurate location data, enabling the crew of the DFMRM patrol vessel to swiftly locate a fisher in need of urgent assistance. These back-to-back incidents underscore the value of the Government’s Inshore Vessel Monitoring System (IVMS) safety-of-life-at-sea device, which enables the search and rescue team to quickly locate vessels that become disabled at sea and return fishers safely home to their families and friends.
Fishers who have not yet registered are encouraged to contact the DFMRM at (649) 338 4177 or email arponteen@gov.tc.
