Abstract

The Grenadine Islands in the Lesser Antilles lie on the Grenadine Bank, an extensive shallow platform (about 3000 km2), consisting of predominantly coralline habitat, exposed to the influence of open oceanic water. The population of the Grenadines (about 12,000 people) is sustained primarily by fishing and tourism. However, within the Grenadines the market for fish is small and export markets in neighboring islands (mainly Martinique) are accessed by ‘trading vessels’. The trading vessel marketing system was studied by means of questionnaires to fishers, and trading boat operators/owners, by key informant interviews, by direct observation in all islands and by examination of Grenadine export records and Marti ique import records.\Bequia, in the St. Vincent Grenadines and Petit Martinique in the Grenada Grenadines are the main ports of operation for the trading vessels. Bequia-based vessels move around in the northern Grenadines, while Petit Martinique-based vessels typically remain stationary while supplying fishers from the southern Grenadine islands bring fish to them. Most vessels purchase fish for 5-7 days before heading to Martinique. The trip typically takes 13-15 hours and offloading takes between 1-3 days. Vessels typically make 2-4 trips per month. Predominantly reef fishes and occasionally conch, coastal pelagics and large pelagics are exported by trading vessels. Estimates of total annual reef fish yield from the Grenadine Bank based on interview data range from 636 to 1182 mt, while total annual fish yield based on export and import data range from 288 to 422 mt.

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