Brazil red and green lobster - trap

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Overview

The Brazilian red and green lobster FIP was being implemented by CeDePesca, Tequesta Bay, WWF, Associação Pesca Sustentável de Icapuí, M M SEA,  Federação dos Pescadores do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (RN), Colônia de Pescadores Z-33 do RN,  Colônia de Pescadores Z-17 do RN and Colônia de Pescadores Z-4 do RN with the ultimate goal of achieving an MSC-certifiable status for the fishery in the shortest timeframe possible. However, exporting companies Allmare, Compex, Condessa, Ipesca, Maris, Prime and Produmar expressed interest in supporting the FIP and signed a specific Agreement with CeDePesca in February 2024.

The Brazilian red and green lobster FIP started in July 2011, as a result of a partnership between the United Nations Environmental Program and CeDePesca.  In November 2011, a CAB was selected by CeDePesca to conduct an MSC pre-assessment with funds granted by the Resources Legacy Fund.  The results of the MSC PA (Feb 2012) showed that: (a) no official stock assessment had been conducted since 2006, when the stocks had been found to be overfished; (b) no adequate limit or target reference points had been set for the stocks; (c) the harvest strategy showed signs of failure, arguably due to difficulties in applying timely management tools and enforcement; (d) existing rules regarding effort limits were solely based on the number of traps, while the fishery was known to include fishing nets and diving –which are still considered illegal fishing gears; (e) there was a general lack of data regarding the impacts on other ecosystem components; (f) the fishery-specific management system lacked specific short-term goals and clear instruments; (g) the management committees were not responsive enough and the decision-making process was not publicly documented; (h) no research management plan was in place, and (i) there was no regular evaluation of the performance of the management system.

CeDePesca disseminated the results of the MSC PA among fishery stakeholders in 2012, including local producers and exporters in the state of Ceará, and importers in the USA with the collaboration of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership.  As a result of this outreach efforts, seven US importers and ten Brazilian exporters expressed their interest in becoming partners to the FIP.  In parallel, as a product of the Resources Legacy Fund grant and the UNEP-CeDePesca partnership, the first FIP workplan was designed by CeDePesca in May 2012 with the goal of addressing the shortcomings identified in the MSC PA.  Most FIP activities were implemented at the time with funds provided by UNEP, the RLF, and by US importers through the SFP.

On the other hand, Brazilian exporters agreed to support the FIP and in February 2013, SINDFRIO signed an agreement with CeDePesca. SINDFRIO provided financing and participated in the FIP between February 2013 and February 2022. In March 2022, it informed CeDePesca of its decision not to renew its participation in the project.

Current partners to the FIP include the fishers association Associação Pesca Sustentável (since 2015), based in the community of Redonda in Icapuí, Tequesta Bay (since 2020), WWF (since 2020), M M SEA (since 2022),  Federação dos Pescadores do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (since 2022), Colônia de Pescadores Z-33 do RN (since 2023),  Colônia de Pescadores Z-17 do RN (since 2023), Colônia de Pescadores Z-4 do RN (since 2023), Allmare (since 2024), Compex (returning in 2024), Condessa (returning in 2024), Ipesca (returning in 2024), Maris (returning in 2024), Prime (since 2024) and Produmar (since 2024). 

For more information on the background of this FIP, please visit CeDePesca's Brazilian Lobster FIP Public Report .

FIP Description 

The Brazilian red and green lobster FIP was being implemented by CeDePesca, Tequesta Bay, WWF, Associação Pesca Sustentável de Icapuí, M M SEA,  Federação dos Pescadores d

FIP Objective(s) 
  • Achieve a mandatory live-lobster delivery policy, so that lobsters are delivered alive to processing plants by May 2020.
  • Achieve the adoption of mandatory landing points and control points as the basis for an accurate catch certificate program by January 2026.
  • Achieve the prohibition of domestic lobster trade during the towards the end of fishing season closure by May 2020.
  • Improve the work of the Management Commission for Lobster (CGPL) by January 2026.
  • Collaborate in achieving the full implementation of the monitoring and research plan by January 2026.
  • Continue to conduct annual stock assessments and recommending TACs by January 2026.
  • Achieve the adoption of output limits (TAC) by January 2026.
FIP Type 
Comprehensive
FIP Stage 
Stage 5: Improvements on the Water
Start and Projected End Dates
February 2013
January 2026
Next Progress Report Due 
Monday, June 30, 2025
Species 
Common Name 
Spiny Lobster (Caribbean)
Scientific Name
Panulirus argus
Buying Guide Link Image 
Spiny Lobster (Caribbean)
Buying Guide
Common Name 
Spiny Lobster (Green)
Scientific Name
Panulirus laevicauda
Gear Type 
Pot/Trap
Location
FAO Major Fishing Area
Area 41 (Atlantic, Southwest)
Exclusive Economic Zones
Country 
Brazil
Geographic Scope 
Northeast coast of Brazil, Ceará
Landings
Estimated Total FIP Landings 
4,475 metric tons
Estimated Total Fishery Landings 
4,950 metric tons
Landings Date 
April 2023
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FIP at a Glance

View current status
February 01, 2013
54% 36% 7% 4%
Progress Rating (A) Advanced Progress

Reserved for comprehensive FIPs that have achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result within the past 12 months.

(B) Good Progress

A basic FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result within 12 months.

(C) Some Recent Progress
  • A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 12 (but less than 24) months AND has reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
  • A FIP younger than 12 months that has never achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result but has reported a Stage 3 activity within the first 12 months.
(D) Some Past Progress
  • A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 12 (but less than 24) months BUT has not reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
  • A FIP for which the most recent Stage 4 or 5 result is more than 24 (but less than 36) months old AND a Stage 3 activity has been reported within six months.
  • A FIP 12-36 months old that has never reported a Stage 4 or 5 result AND has reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
(E) Negligible Progress
  • A FIP for which the most recent Stage 4 or 5 result is more than 24 (but less than 36) months old, with no Stage 3 activity reported in the last six months.
  • A FIP younger than 12 months with no Stage 3 activity reported within 12 months.
  • A FIP 12-36 months old that has never reported a Stage 4 or 5 result AND has not reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.

The ratings are currently derived by SFP from publicly available data on FIP websites, including FisheryProgress.org, and are determined using the following methodology: View PDF
A Advanced Progress
Actions Complete

This pie chart represents completed environmental actions. Non-completed environmental actions may contain completed sub-tasks that are not illustrated here. For more information on environmental action progress visit the Actions Progress tab.
  • Complete
  • Incomplete
Next Update Due FisheryProgress requires a FIP to provide update reports every six months, and two missed reports will render the FIP inactive. If a report is overdue, this date will appear red.
Jun 2025
Target End Date
Jan 2026

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
CeDePesca
Organization Type 
NGO
Primary Contact 
Rochelle Cruz
Email 
rochelle.cruz@cedepesca.net
Website Name 
CeDePesca's Brazilian Lobster FIP Site
FIP Identification Number The FIP Identification Number is automatically generated by FisheryProgress when a FIP profile is created. While the number itself is not meaningful, they are used by NGOs, academia, and industry to refer to FIPs in a consistent way.
1146