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The Marine Fisheries of Jamaica
by K. Aiken and G.A. Kong
The marine fisheries of Jamaica are almost entirely artisanal with
at least 18,000 fishers and an annual catch of approximately 7,000
t. A recent development is a small industrial fishery for queen
conch and spiny lobster that earns significant foreign exchange
for the country. The major aquatic resources are coral reef fishes,
conch, lobster, small pelagics and seasonal large pelagics. The
major fishing grounds are the southern shelf and Pedro Bank, a large
oceanic bank 150 km to the southwest of Kingston. The fisheries
are rated as overfished, except the queen conch fishery which is
relatively well managed. A new Fisheries Bills is currently being
reviewed with the intention of improving the efficiency of management
measures and of fisheries adminstration. There are plans for rehabilitating
the fisheries and developing them with focus on their sustainability
in the future.
Aiken, K.A. and G.A. Kong 2000. Jamaica's marine fisheries. Naga,
ICLARM Quarterly, Vol. 23 (1) Jan. - Mar.:23-35.
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