BVI lobster fishermen face fuel squeeze as season restart looms

Preparations are underway on Tortola's East End for the British Virgin Islands lobster season, which resumes on November 1 after closing on October 1 each year to protect breeding stocks.

Fisherman Clifton Thomas begins his October routine by loading over 200 traps onto his vessel in Red Bay. He transports roughly 70 traps per voyage to waters 10 to 15 miles north of Anegada, where they remain submerged for a fortnight before retrieval once the season restarts. Thomas calls the work a "really tough job" and says the immediate hurdle involves securing reasonable rates from the hospitality sector.

Currently, lobster fetches $10 per pound, but Thomas is advocating for a $2 increase to $12. He attributes the push to soaring fuel expenses and has sought government intervention on pricing. "We've been talking with the government to set a price for the product, but we haven't gotten a response yet, but with the high price of fuel right now, lobster prices have to move," he said.

Thomas expressed frustration with how hotels and restaurants approach negotiations. "The restaurants and the hotels always go into a negotiating mode and they don't care about you, they just think about themselves. Whereas, without the fisherman, they can't have any kind of seafood on their plate to serve their guests," he said.

Jerome Emmanuel, another East End operator, faces identical challenges. With diesel costing $7 per gallon, the financial mathematics become grim. "Sometimes you put pen to paper and when you come back in, it's like you just did the work to pay your crew. It's very hard right now. We definitely need some assistance right now," Emmanuel said.

Both men highlighted the hazards inherent in their trade. Thomas noted that winds occasionally reach 30 miles per hour during trips, creating dangerous conditions. Emmanuel observed that weather patterns are shifting toward consistent 26 to 30 knot conditions, adding complexity to already demanding voyages. Rigorous boat maintenance before each departure is non-negotiable.

Thomas also advocated for a fishing facility to replace the one destroyed during Hurricane Irma at Baughers Bay. He suggested that a depot at Red Bay, his current mooring location, would serve the fishing community well.

Lobster remains a significant export product for the territory, with shipments reaching the US Virgin Islands. The annual Lobster Fest on Anegada, scheduled for later in November, attracts visitors from throughout the region.