Abstract

The Barbados deep-water snapper fishery peaks during July-October, the “off-season” when the major migratory pelagic species are scarce. It is a multi-gear fishery, using traps and handlines. Three snappers are most often caught: silk snapper (Lutjanus vivanus), vermilion snapper (Rhomboplites aurorubens) and queen snapper (Etelis oculatus). However, little is known about many aspects of the Barbados snapper fishery, including most ecological characteristics, loca-tion of the fishing grounds, current fishing techniques and the socio-economic circumstances of active fisherfolk. Limited knowledge of the social-ecological fishery system makes it difficult to monitor, thus having implications for adap-tive management by the state and stewardship by other stakeholders. This research aimed at understanding aspects of the Barbados deep-water snapper fishery as a social-ecological system. It examined what ecological changes such as in habitat or climate could have impacted, or may impact, the social system of the fishery. It also investigated social changes and their ecological or fishery impacts such as due to fluctuating numbers of fishers, shifts in harvest and post-harvest de-mographics and socio-economics, changing fishing and marketing methods or technological innovations. External factors, such as energy costs and climate change were also considered. A better understanding of social-ecological rela-tionships within small-scale fisheries should result in interventions and practices that contribute more to sustainable fisheries and livelihoods. Well-managed small-scale fisheries are vital for small islands that depend heavily on the ocean for resilience and their future.

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