Lobster Casitas are small artificial habitats placed in shallow waters, which provides shelter for the lobster. They are usually constructed with a frame of thatch palm logs and a roof of reinforced concrete. Casita lobsters are harvested by free-diving once every week to ten days.

In 2005, the Fisheries Division implemented its Lobster Casita plan. The plan seeks to address the decline in lobster catches, over harvesting of undersized lobsters, and environmental concerns (of the impact of hurricanes and pollution on lobsters). The main thrust of the project is the introduction of artificial shelters on the seabed for the enhancement of the lobster population.

Cost and Location
Under the Agricultural Development Project (ADP), the Fisheries Division has been awarded J$1 million to administer the lobster replenishment scheme. Currently, the Lobster Casita Project is concentrated in Bowden, St. Thomas; however, the aim is to have the new technology (artificial shelters for young lobsters) used island wide.

Achievements
So far two methods, Condominiums and the Pueruli Collectors, have been implemented in the research area. Each has shown promising results of increasing the underdeveloped lobsters' chances of survival to maturity.

                      

Pueruli Collectors are artificial seaweed collectors constructed from rope coiled around 5 gallon buckets. These act as habitats along the seabed in which puerulus stage spiny lobsters may gather together.	Condominiums, made up of two tiers of concrete blocks, provide shelter for young lobsters and allow researchers to track the volume of juveniles in coastal areas.

The project also has a training component in which fishermen are taught how to use and make the cutting-edge technology. Those trained are expected to share their knowledge with the other local fishers in their communities.

Drawbacks and Future
The project is adversely affected by the theft of and the unavailability of equipment. Yet, the Fisheries Division presses on to create a standardized method for the laying of condominiums - affected by underwater currents- to ensure that the project can be replicated island wide.

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