Abstract

For proper and effective fisheries management, there is a need to understand not only the biophysical environment but also the demographic and socio-economic aspects. From June to August 2006, students from the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES) conducted a trans-boundary socio-economic and livelihood assessment of fisheries in the Grenadines. The study was divided into two stages and took place in the Vincentian islands of Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, Mayreau and Union Island and the Grenadian islands of Petit Martinique and Carriacou. The first stage created a basic demographic profile of the fishers and gathered data on their gear and resource-use patterns. This was done through interviews of 267 fishers from all of the major fishing villages in the Grenadines. The second stage created a more detailed socio-economic profile of the fisheries. This involved acquiring more data on temporal and spatial features of fishing practices, and information on market orientation, income, expenditures and material style of life from a sub-sample of these fishers. Over 75% of the fishers in the study relied on fishing as their major source of income. Less than half had an alternative livelihood and many continued to fish well beyond retirement age. This suggests vulnerability within the fishing community, especially within the older population. Shallow-shelf demersals are the most important species group and also the most overexploited. Governments should encourage fishers into alternative fisheries and livelihoods through market incentives, training and loans. The information from this study will help resource managers and users better understand the socio-economics of the fisheries and may lead to more informed decision making for sustainable fisheries in the Grenadines

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