Marine cage fish farming.pdf

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F.A.O projet
TCP/JAM/2251

Marine cage fish farming

March 1993 Amended september 1993

The present document has been established after a mission to Jamaica, taking place between September 28, 1992 and October 9, 1992. During this mission contacts have been established with the Ministry of Agriculture, Aministrations, Research Institutes, privatefish farmers and fishermen groups or individuals, under the coordination and with the efficient assistance of the FAO regional office of Kingston.

Contributors are : P. ESPEUT(l), Y. HARACHE (2), G. LEMARIE (3) and J.M. RICARD (4) under the coordination of J.M. RICARD

(1) University of the West Indies, Institute of Social & Economic research, Kingston, JAMAICA (2) IFREMER, Centre de Brest,FRANCE. Coordinator offin fish Research Programs (3) IFREMER, Station de Palavas FRANCE (4) IFREMER Regional Director for the West Indies, Le Robert, MARTINIQUE

SUMMARY

1 Introduction
/. 1 Motivation of the project 1.2 Objective of the assistance and workplan 1.3 Methodology

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2. The fishery sector in Jamaica
2.1 Consumption of aquatic products 2.2 Fish production 2.3 Canfinfishaquaculture be an additional resource ? a socioeconomic analysis

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3. Species and technologies available for marine cage fish farming
Some general characteristics of marine aquaculture General steps from research to development Exemples of aquaculture having reached commercial development An exemple of tropical fin fish aquaculture having reached the pilot phase : the Red Drum (Sciaenopsocellata) in Martinique 3.5 Other tropical marine species presently investigated (research level), with special reference to the Carribean area 3.6 Some documented cases offailure in aquaculture development 3.7 Conclusions 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4

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4. The context for cage culture of marine fish in Jamaica
4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Site availability, with annex Availibility of juveniles Human resourceAvailability of local capital for research The legal environment

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5. Proposals
5.7. 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Short, medium and long term approaches Education and training Technical assistance Short to medium term Tilapia aquaculture extension Cage farming of Tilapia in marine waters (longer term) Assessment of the potential of local marine species for marine cage farming

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1.INTROBtI€HOJN

1.1

MOTIVATION OF THE PROJECT : (FAO Documents 19/07/1991)
BACKGROUND and JUSTIFICATION

Marine capture fisheries in Jamaica is primarily artisanal in nature ansd is conducted maiinly by fishermen operating from canoes. Approximately 95% of these fishermen operate on the coastal shelf and its associated banks. The commercial species harvested comprise bottom-dwelling, coral reef speciesand free swimming species of finfish. Other fishery resources of commercial value include marine shrimp, conch and lobsters. Catch statistics are not available for all species, but the Department of Fisheries reports a slight decline in fishery production with production decreasing from 16 milion lbs in 1990, despite the fact that fishing efforts have doubled. Over this period the number ofregistered fishermen has grown from 12 000 to 16 000, al of whom are engaged in full-time fishing. There arealso part-time fishermen who are not registered. The decline in fish catch is accompanied by a decrease in fish size and quality, suggesting that the fisheries are under pressure and have already exceeded optimum production in relation to vailable resources. As a result the economic returns tofishermen are declining. There are also other problems, such as high incidence of conflicts among fishermen at sea, the high cost of purchasing boats, outboard engine fuel, and equipment, with together with the dangers involved in fishing offshore (piracy, and praedial larceny) create serious social ans economic difficulties for fishermen. Notwithstanding, there is an apparent move on the part of...