The Law (Ministry of Agriculture) has advised that spiny lobster in storage, which has been declared to the licensing authority, may not be sold, exported or processed between after April 21 until June 30...lobster will take a leave of absence and anyone (?) with lobsters or spiny lobster parts or products in their possession will be prosecuted.

For lovers of the crustacean, who hunger to feast on that sweet flesh, with some tropical version of melted, citrusy butter, does this really mean that the lobster meat that Sistah Sally caught before close of season, chill-preserved lovingly and crying out to be dressed up with some fresh veggie sides for a beach party, could be considered an illegal substance, if served over the Calabash Fest weekend?

Please enlighten respectable goody-two-shoes and bandalus alike.

Gleaner Link:
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120503/cook/cook2.html

It would have to be sold by April 21st. The problem with allowing establishments to serve "frozen lobster" is that it is impossible to accurately determine when the lobster was caught.

If no one is allowed to serve lobster then it diminishes demand so it is a disincentive to harvest lobster out of season.

I doubt that the food police will enforce the law against private citizens. On the other hand, it is a show of solidarity to not serve Lobster out of season, even if lovingly frozen.

I'm willing to forgo lobster out of season so dem can have dem babies out of harms way.

So if you have lobsters before this date, which you could not dispose of the you cannot use them? This is crazy! They cannot do this...if you are caught catching them that is another matter, but this kind of do good tyranny must stop.

I have lobsters frozen in my freezer for my own consumption prior to June 1. Now the law says this is illegal. Am I supposed to throw them in the rubbish bin? This is NUTS. Not catching is one thing but having to throw away perfectly good food is NUTS.

I think I've shared this one before, but love it so much I'll do it again.

Sign in Portland restaurant:

Lobster on maternity leave. Returning July 1.

For folks getting all excited about enforcement, the likelihood that the lobster police are going to join you at your personal dinner table, or raid your personal freezer, is pretty low, yes?

This regulation is meant to effectively prohibit the larger volume of commercial sale and consumption -- which includes purchasing during those dates for your personal dinner table.

I think Calabash is a marvelous opportunity for some charming lobster education. Sensible people will understand the need for this brief respite.

There is probably a fine for discarding frozen lobster.

In Boston Bay/Portland last week the first cookshop with the white tile counter on the left side when you pull in was trying to sell me jerked lobster.

I called them out on it and asked them how they expect the lobsters to breed if they are not complying with the regulations in place....

Of course I did not expect a response and I only got a sly smile.....
Lobster was even listed on the menu, as if the regulations don't even exist