Lives, jobs and lobsters are protected in the Caribbean

Location: Honduras

Overfishing and unsafe fishing practices in the Caribbean endanger the lives and livelihoods of lobster fishers and threaten the environment, local industries and the communities sustained by lobster fishing. The Spiny Lobster Initiative, launched in Honduras in 2009 by FHI 360's Global FISH Alliance (G-FISH), brings together divers, trappers, lobster boat captains, processors, exporters and buyers with environmental groups and officials from the national and local governments to help sustain the spiny lobster and the individuals and communities that depend on it. In 2011, G-FISH supported the development of a new Honduran fisheries law, connected divers to organizations that provide grants and training to transition into new lines of work and trained dive boat captains in safe diving practices. The initiative is improving livelihoods and conserving marine biodiversity at the same time.