As far as lobster seasons go, last year was bad, really bad. In fact there was a 15% drop in production in 2006 when compared to 2005. The only good news from last year is that despite the drop in production - earnings jumped from $13.7 million to 14.6 million - that's due to the increased world market price for tails. The 2007 lobster season opened on June 15th and fisher folks from Monkey River to Sartenja are hoping this season won't be a repeat of the last. And nowhere are fishermen more hopeful than in Placencia. Sure, the Peninsula is now known for more for tourism than it is for lobster but fishing is where it all started for Placencia. The village's annual Lobster Fest was held this weekend and the 7NEWS team was there. Keith Swift has the story.
Keith Swift Reporting,
The Pantempters Steel Orchestra performed and these rubber ducks raced in the open sea but those were the sideshows - the main attraction this weekend in Placencia was bubbling in pots and roasting on grills; it was the lobster,
While by now we've showed you a fair share of barbecue lobster, curried lobster, and lobster fritters - Brenda Bernard has something original.
Brenda Bernard,
"Its called Lobster Jambalaya, I cook it with fresh coconut milk, with the fresh lobster and I get all my ground food and I put it all together in a big skillet. It is like a serre but it is more like a Jambalaya because I add more herbs to it, I put a lot of cilantro, oregano, and then I cook all my ground food down and then I just add my lobster to it and I just sizzle it up."
Placencia's love affair with lobster dates back to ever since the village was created. But recently there have been some bumps in the road which some say are threatening the very industry this village was created on.
Jack Young, Fisherman
"Our government needs to stop issuing licenses for people who want to fish lobster."
That is the sober warning from 66-year-old Jack Young who is the oldest active fisherman on the peninsula. He's been a fisherman for 47 years and says that without lobster, there wouldn't be a Placencia.
Jack Young,
"Lobster is very important to this village because that's the backbone of this village. You know lobster pays a very good price and we have a fishing co-op that produces lobster so that's biggest income earner for this village right now."
But now Young says there are too many fishermen. He is active in the village's cooperative which collects and packs the lobster tails for transportation to Belize City. Young believes the industry is at a cross road.
Jack Young,
"We've been putting this to our Minister and asked him to stop issuing fishing licenses because every time anybody goes to the Fisheries Department for a license, it is to catch lobster."
Keith Swift,
You think people are rushing to lobster because they think they will get rich quick because you get a lot of money for lobster.
Jack Young,
"Well it used to be."
Keith Swift,
But aren't the prices increasing?
Jack Young,
"Yes the price has increased considerably too but the production is not there."
That's because Young says the supply of lobster is cyclical so while last year was really bad - this year looks good. Village Chairman Brian Yearwood says that while tourism has already eclipsed fishing as the village's cash crop - there's no denying the importance of the spiny lobster.
Brian Yearwood, Chairman -Placencia Village
"Tourism, you know Placencia is fast becoming is the fastest growing tourist location. There are a of condominium development, a lot of investors have visited the peninsula and have expressed interest in investing. But Placencia has always been mainly a fishing village, long before it became now a tourist village. So I would it is embedded deeply into most of the people who are originally from Placencia so that is part of this event, to keep that heritage, to keep that feeling and everybody happy."
And that's why we found even Jack Young enjoying a lobster tail on Saturday. His one was grilled which left us wondering how other people liked their lobster tail.
Woman #1: How do I like it? Anyway. We are going to eat it grilled so it is going to be great.
Woman #2: Grilled with butter, the closer to nature the better.
Man #1: We like it grilled and gone. I liked it a lot.
Woman #3: I love it stewed with all the little prickle things coming out of the claw part.
Woman #4: I love mines boiled, that is the best way to do it.
Woman #5: I love mines anyway, dah lobster.
It is lobster - a $14.6 million industry - now that's worth celebrating.
San Pedro has already had its lobster fest and Caye Caulker's Fest is scheduled for this weekend.