Abstract

Diamondback squid (Thysanoteuthis rhombus Troschel) fishing, a type of deep water fishing, started about 15 years ago in Japan. Diamondback squid exists all around the globe in tropical and sub-tropical marine areas, but at depth. Some smaller countries are yet to utilize this deep water squid resource. This new fishing activity was introduced to Jamaica in February 2004 by a Japanese technical assistance programme. This paper describes one way of finding diamondback squid fishing grounds with minimal cost, and within a relatively short period of time by utilizing the egg trace method which is proposed by the authors. In January, 2005 and February, 2006 two specimens were captured by special squid fishing gear off eastern Jamaica. A third specimen was taken in March, 2006 on the north coast. This was the first time that this species was recorded from Jamaica. It is thus a potentially new fisheries resource for the country. Diamondback squid fishing is proposed within the fisheries management plan for Jamaica. If the egg trace method is used as demonstrated in Jamaica it could make diamondback squid a new utilizable resource which may benefit great numbers of fishers in developing countries of the world

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