Abstract

The serious negative impact of ghost-fishing by abandoned, lost and derelict fish pots on Dominica’s limited and fragile marine resources over the last ten years have been documented.This resulted in experiments into the most appropriate type of bio-degradable escape panel and tying materials to reduce the continuous incidence of ghost fishing. For the first part of the study, ten bio-degradable fish pots were used to simulate lost pots. Experiments were conducted using three types of bio-degradable tying materials. After forty-five to fifty days the jute twine bio-degraded. This is the material that was used for the national study. Part two contained forty-five pots with bio-degradable panels and deployed by ten fishers in six communities on the East and West coasts of Dominica. The pots were of straight funnel and gooseneck type entrance. The Jute twine was used as standard bio-degradable material for the escape panel which was constructed to the side of the pot. This part of the study observed the behavior and durability of the twine during hauling operation and response of fishers to the new idea of fitting all pots with a bio-degradable escape panel. The Fisheries Act #11 of 1987 does not require that fish pots in Dominica be fitted with an escape panel as part of a management tool for the sector. Most fishers agreed that the modified fish pot (with the bio-degradable escape panel) was a definite improvement and one that should be made mandatory.

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