NICARAGUA: IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW IMPORT

UNCLAS MANAGUA 000131 SIPDIS OES/OMC FOR JSANDERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIS SENV NU SUBJECT: NICARAGUA: IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW IMPORT REGULATIONS FOR CARIBBEAN SPINY LOBSTER REF: SECSTATE 4147 (U) On January 29, Econoff delivered reftel demarche to Steadman Fagoth, Executive Director of the Nicaraguan National Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (INPESCA). INPESCA is the government organization that oversees all activities related to fishing in Nicaragua. Fagoth reacted positively to the demarche and said that Nicaragua has already set minimum size limits for Caribbean spiny lobster, and has long urged all lobster-exporting countries in the region to adopt similar regulations. Econoff also delivered a Spanish translation of the demarche to the Nicaraguan Chamber of Fisheries (CAPENIC),the private sector organization representing the fishing industry. CAPENIC approves of the regulations and anticipates no repercussions for Nicaragua. Caribbean spiny lobster is the Nicaraguan Caribbean coast's major seafood export and the industry is being hit hard by the global economic downturn. Nevertheless, both INPESCA and CAPENIC believe that they stand to benefit in the long run from the establishment of uniform minimum size limits for lobster throughout the region. CALLAHAN