Final Report: Results of the Implementation of the Traceability System for the Spiny Lobster Fishery in Honduras and Nicaragua

The system aimed to verify whether the traceability system, as designed, was applicable to the conditions and circumstances of this fishery and to validate its effectiveness in tracing product from the sea to the primary buyer in the United States. The pilot was conducted in two phases, with the first phase taking place in Nicaragua and the second phase in Honduras. In Nicaragua, the pilot was conducted on three fishing vessels owned by the ship owner who signed the memorandum of understanding. In Honduras, the pilot was conducted on one vessel owned by the ship owner who had previously signed a memorandum of understanding. An observer was placed on board each vessel to collect information using the different forms created for the traceability system. The catch is identified with labels that can be used to track the product to the processing plant. Once at the pack house, the labels are linked to its lot coding system. In order to verify that the lots included in the pilot could be traced to their primary destination in the United States, the importer was asked to request information about specific lot numbers from the processing plant. The traceability system, as designed, proved to be applicable to the conditions and circumstances of the spiny lobster fishery in both countries. It was implemented on four trapping vessels (one in Honduras and three in Nicaragua) and with two packing plants (one in each country, and two U.S. buyers. The system traced 9,318 lbs. of product harvested with traps, with a sales value of USD 135,111.00. The pilot created a partnership among representatives from different links in the spiny lobster value chain in Nicaragua in order to pilot the traceability system and solidified a similar partnership in the Honduran value chain. U.S. buyers place high priority on information requirements related to the traceability of product harvested using a specific fishing method and have expressed interest in making such a system permanent. The Regional Program provided training on good fishing practices and the traceability system for spiny lobster to 50 crew members on trapping vessels, on board observers, ship owners, pack house representatives and Honduran and Nicaraguan government employees. The pilot demonstrated the effectiveness of the traceability system in tracing product from the sea to the primary buyer in the United States, and its potential to improve the sustainability of the spiny lobster fishery in both countries. The implementation of the traceability system in Honduras and Nicaragua has several implications for the management of the spiny lobster fishery. The system provides a means to track the origin of the product and to verify that it was harvested using a specific fishing method. This information can be used to ensure that the product meets the requirements of the U.S. market and to prevent the entry of product that was harvested using methods that are not sustainable. The Regional Program will continue to work with the stakeholders in the spiny lobster value chain to implement the traceability system in other countries in the region. The program will also provide technical assistance to the stakeholders to ensure that the system is implemented correctly and that it meets the requirements of the U.S. market.