Abstract

The Bahamas has one largest export fisheries in the Caribbean in landings and sales of finfish, conch and spiny lobster. Most fishing takes place on shallow banks throughout the archipelago (approximately117,000 km2; 45,000 mi2). The fisheries of the Bahamas are comprised of a unique composition of fishermen and markets; however the status of many fish stocks is not known. This study outlines some of the basic characteristics of a small scale commercial fishery (finfish) on New Providence, the country’s most populous island. Evaluating landing composition and socio-economic information from small scale reef fisheries over time is critical for understanding the: a) variability and abundance of landings, b) value of the fishery, and the c) influence that the harvesting may be have on the targeted reefs. Landing abundance surveys of finfish and interviews from the Montagu Ramp fish market were used to: 1) estimate monthly landing abundances, 2) detect seasonal changes in landing composition, and 3) profile effort and socioeconomic aspects of the fishery. Profiles determined over thirty fishermen contribute to the fishery and gillnets and spearing are the most common styles of fishing. Landings are dominated by two families, Lutjanidae (snappers) and Serranidae (groupers and hinds), and the most abundant catch species were lane (Lutjanis synagris), Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) and yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus), respectively. However, this is a multi-species fishery and a diversity of other families are also targeted including, Haemulidae (grunts and margates), Carangidae (jacks) and Sphyraenidae (barracuda), Balistidae (triggerfish), and Labridae (wrasse).

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