Abstract

This site is located in the western part of Jamaica and is the third largest fishing community, but before this 2001-2002 study, little was known about this site. Approximately 700 fishers using 120 relatively large (16 m) open boats operate from this relatively well developed site. These boats are all constructed on the beach and are the largest in the island. We investigated selected reef fish species from trap catches, gear distribution, fishing grounds, socio-economic information on fishers as well as attitudes towards potential management measures.\The overfished condition of the reef fish resources targeted by these fishers who operated mainly on Pedro Bank, 100 km to the south, was evident from the high proportion (61%) of “trash” (lower grade) fish in trap landings. Ranked dominant families were Scaridae (parrotfish), 41%, Mullidae (goatfishes (18%), and the Holocentridae (squirrelfishes), 9%. Fish traps with 3.18 cm maximum aperture mesh wire were the predominant gear utilized by 49% of all fishers, with hook and line gear at 37%. Comparisons of estimates of the von Bertalanffy growth parameters for the eleven most abundant reef fish species from seven families, indicated the reef fish populations they represented, were not significantly different from many other Caribbean reef fish populations with high mortality rates. There is a curious interference by dolphins (Mammalia, Delphinidae) with fish traps that will form the basis of another project.\Of the 69 fishers interviewed, 87% were full-time, and 52% were over 40 years old. Most had been fishing from more than 10 years. Most fishers perceived that there was need for management measures such as shorter fishing seasons, introduction of fishery reserves, increasing the minimum size for lobsters, and co-management of the reef fisheries.

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