Last year, the exports of marine products accounted for 64.4 million dollars in foreign exchange earnings. Belize's famous Sea Lobster is the kingpin in that sector with most of the product purchased at dollar prices by the Red Lobster restaurant chain. But not all of it goes there because the local market claims as much as it can afford and this weekend Belizeans shelled out big bucks for a taste at Caye Caulker's annual Lobster Fest. Caye Caulker, which looks to the lobster for a livelihood for many island families pays worshipful tribute to the prize shellfish every year. And this weekend was no different, as islanders from La Isla Carinosa again celebrated the lobster and for the fourth year running, Seven News was there.
Alfonso Noble reporting,
For the 7th consecutive year Caye Caulker took time out to again honor one of the village's top bread winners, the lobster.
Patty Arceo, Area Representative
The lobster industry has been one of the main pillars for the fishing industry right here in the country. It's not from right now, it's from years, more than fifty years back, and for both Caye Caulker and San Pedro, this is how these islands are starting to flourish right now in the tourism industry, which is because of the lobster season. We have to take time, some time during the year, here in Caye Caulker, you know, in the first week of July, that we can acknowledge the fishermen and the industry that is making the island of Caye Caulker what it is today.
Neil Bradley, Founder Lobster Fest
I think Lobster Fest has come a very long way from a very small idea and I think Lobster Fest has come to the point where it has literally overwhelmed Caye Caulker right now and the entire country of Belize. When we first started, all we had was a one-night dance and we made a little bit of money, and every year we got better organized, until now we have the business community, we have the fishermen, and of course, the Veteran's Football Club which started Lobster Fest, and it is getting bigger and bigger every year.
Patty Arceo, Area Representative
As tourism grows, so will the Lobster Festival continue growing.
That couldn't be more true, as visitors and locals throng to the island to celebrate the seasonal bounty of lobster and enjoy the carefree party atmosphere of Lobster Fest. The main attractions are those varied culinary concoctions showcasing the costly crustacean. From the parboiled lobster ceviche to the well done grilled lobster, every style, every flavour in lobster was represented.
It's all local, Belizeans especially can come and actually enjoy a good time here on the island without spending a lot of money and they know at the end of the day when they go back home they can look back and say, hey, not only me but the whole family had a good time here in Caye Caulker. When it came to affording the accommodations, the transportation, and more importantly, the lobster itself.
Lobster Fest da wah very exciting day to bring out the whole family, have fun, you got the lobster everywhere, and it's a fun-filled day... it's just to mingle with everybody else, you know, and enjoy the good lobster they have to offer, enjoy the breeze, it's a beautiful day today, and do everything everybody likes to do.
But as more visitors come to the island pursuing the prized shellfish and the easy charm of this fishing village - will there be fishermen in the future? Increasingly residents are making their living in the service industry - and fewer than ever are embracing the hard life of a Fisherman. That may be a concern, but as the events founder advises, once there's fish in the sea - there'll be men to catch them.
Neil Bradley, Founder Lobster Fest
Caye Caulker is still a fishing village. Although a lot of the guys are qualified tour guides, and they are very good tour guides at that, and they are taking out a lot of tourists, they still do their basic fishing, they still do their lobster fishing, they still do their crab traps, and I don't think that will ever stop.
The lobster season spans the 8 months from mid - June to mid - February every year.