Abstract

Small scale fishery in French West Indies concern 2.600 fishermen for about 2.500 boats (6-8m). The coastal fishery is predominant compared to pelagic fishery because of numerous commercial species catchable on the continental shelf of the islands. The main coastal gears used locally are Antillean traps, gillnets and trammel nets (surface or bottom nets). Among these gears, bottom trammel nets and gillnets targeting fishes, queen conch and spiny lobsters are not sustainable fishing techniques. Bottom nets account for 20% of the total fishing gears with gillnets more used than trammel nets. These techniques cause the waste of lot of fishes and are responsible for significant bycatch of protected marine turtles. The CPUE of experimental fishing to test new equipment targeting demersal reef resources permit to highlight nets selectivity problems. Trammel net causes serious damages with more than 60% of waste in the catches. The aim of this study is to develop thoughts on new orientation of policy development based on fisheries regulation to preserve marine resources and marine turtles.

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