PRESS RELEASE IMPORTANT GUIDANCE FOR CONSUMERS AT JOUNÈN KWÈYÒL ACTIVITIES In accordance with the Fisheries Act and the Fisheries Regulations Cap 7.15 of the revised laws of St. Lucia 2008, the Department of Fisheries reminds vendors and persons who will be participating in the Jounèn Kwèyòl activities this year of the following:  Regulations during the open Lobster Fishery  CLOSED Sea Egg (Sea Urchin)  CLOSED Crayfish Fishery Regulations for Lobster When purchasing and selling lobsters during the open fishery period, each lobster must meet the following requirements: 1. The lobsters must not be undesized (i.e., they must have a carapace length of 9.5cm or more); 2. Lobsters must not be carrying eggs (berried) or show evidence of having eggs removed; 3. Lobsters should not have a soft shell (i.e., be moulting) 4. Lobsters should not be speared or hooked. CLOSED Sea Egg Fishery Recent assessments of the sea eggs population in Saint Lucia revealed that the numbers of sea eggs are too low to allow for a harvest period this year. As such, the sea egg fishery will REMAIN CLOSED. Therefore, no one is to disturb, damage, harvest, have in their possession, purchase or sell sea eggs during the close season. CLOSED Crayfish Fishery The crayfish resource continues to be threatened by the illegal use of poisonous substances as a common means of harvesting. As such, a moratorium (i.e., extended close season) on the harvest and sale of freshwater shrimp, prawns or crayfish remains in effect. It is therefore illegal to remove from the rivers of Saint Lucia, expose for sale, sell, purchase, or at any time have in his possession fresh water shrimp or crayfish. Persons are encouraged to purchase farmed prawns from Aquaculture farmers. Farmed prawns when alive can be generally distinguished by their large blue pincers (gandi) which are not present in the wild-caught prawns. To ensure that there are lobsters, sea eggs and crayfish for generations to come and Saint Lucia’s fisheries resources remains healthy, the Department of Fisheries urges all persons to adhere to the Fisheries Regulations and not purchase river-caught crayfish, sea eggs or lobsters that are undersized or berried.. The Department wishes all persons a festive and enjoyable Jounèn Kwèyòl. DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD PRODUCTION, FISHERIES, COOPERATIVES AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT