My Village My Lobster Review
- The Nicaragua Miskito Coast largely depends on deep-sea lobster diving, as the main economic activity. Over the years, lobster fishing was much easier and less dangerous, as lobsters were many to the point that they could be picked on the seashore. With the large scale fishing of lobsters, their numbers greatly reduced, leading to deep-sea diving as a way to pick them from the seafloor. The standards of living for the people of Miskito are low, and poverty and lack of alternative sources of income lead to the practice of deep-sea diving, which is dangerous and has led to deaths of some of the divers.
- Artisanal lobster fishing refers to the small scale fishing of lobster for personal consumption and other minor uses. This practice mainly uses low technological techniques and is mainly done by an individual. Commercial fishing is the large scale catching of fish and other marine life. Greater technology is used in catching and preserving the fish before they reach the consumers. An example is refrigeration of the fish on the fishing boats, to ensure that they maintain being fresh.
- Lobster divers in Nicaragua are forced to go deeper in the waters due to the great reduction of the lobsters near to the land. The great demand of the lobsters has resulted in the reduction of the sea creatures triggering diving deeper into the ocean to access the remaining few. Deep-sea diving results in health hazards such as contracting decompression sickness, aka the bends, when their air supply runs out, and they have to struggle to get to land quickly. At times when the divers take longer to get medical attention, they may suffer neurological damage and disabilities.
- The lobster industry is worth a lot of money and is greatly depended upon by the people in the Central American Caribbean Coast. After being exported to the United States, lobsters are sold as an expensive meal in high-end hotels. Hotel owners and boat owners are among the people making more money compared to the deep sea divers who are exposed to the risk and do the heavy job. The deep-sea divers are paid very little for the lobsters after they have fished them compared to the price the consumer is paying for the lobster meal in a hotel in the United States.
- Lobster farming in Nicaragua should not be banned as it plays a significant role in creating employment for the residents. What should be done is that the government should intervene in this economic activity to make it an organized organization that ensures the deep sea divers are well trained, lobsters are not fished before they mature, and ensure the safety of the divers with proper diving gear.