Florida’s spiny lobster season closed April 1 across both state and federal waters, bringing a halt to commercial and recreational harvests as the fishery enters its annual spring shutdown.

The closure, set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, applies fleetwide and marks the start of a four-month pause during the species’ peak spawning period.

In the final days leading up to the shutdown, effort remained steady. “Florida fishermen have only a few days left to pull traps and grab limits before the spiny lobster season officially ends across all state and federal waters on April 1,” AOL reported. The outlet noted that the closure “marks the start of a four-month hiatus designed to protect the species during its peak spawning months.”

The season is scheduled to reopen Aug. 6, with Florida’s two-day recreational sport, or so-called “mini-season,” set for July 29 and 30– falling on the last Wednesday and Thursday of July this year. The short window allows recreational divers to harvest lobster ahead of the full reopening, offering a “head start before the commercial traps return to the water in August,” according to AOL.

State officials continue to stress the importance of compliance with seasonal rules. These seasonal dates are strictly enforced to ensure the long-term health of the lobster population. They have sent additional reminders that bag limits and harvest regulations vary by location.