Abstract

In this paper I use a systems approach to examine components and interactions of the pelagic longline fishery in Gouyave, Grenada, using data from participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and a structured quantitative survey conducted between December 2002 and March 2004. I describe the fishery in the context of the socio-economic environment (who is involved, where and how they live) and the fishing industry (fishing activities, management). From this information I identify six major components of this system, the pelagic ecosystem, fisher, community, marketing, private sector, and management. Components are linked by the movement of goods and services such as fish, cash, labour, expectations, and regulations. These findings shed some insight into the need to strengthen major components and their interactions and applying regulations to appropriate components for sustainable fisheries management.

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