Abstract

The shallow reef fishery on Jamaica’s north coast is among the Caribbean’s most intensely fished. The fishery at Discovery Bay is typical of the Jamaican north coast with a narrow fishing ground and small boats, many without motors, suitable only for inshore trap, line or spear fishing. The depleted condition of the north coast fisheries resources has been documented by over three decades of scientific research. Despite the overexploited condition of the fishery, it provides a livelihood for many Jamaican men directly and indirectly for men and women as retailers and cooks. This study documents the deep demersal fish and inshore pelagic fish populations and assesses the potential for abundance of these resources at one location along the north coast. Working with fishermen, the potential for fishing pelagic and deep (80 -150m) water fishes were explored. Skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) and dolphin fish (Coryphaena hippurus) were the most frequently caught pelagic fish. Wenchman (Pristipomoides macrophthalmus) and silk snapper (Lutjanus vivanus) were the most commonly caught deep water fish. The lack of deep water shelves, rises, or seamounts along or close to the coast, means that the habitat for deep water species is limited. The depth range of 50-120m is characterized by steep slopes that are unsuitable for trap deployment. The area probably supports small, exploitable populations of target species. Pelagic catches offer the greatest potential for sustainable utilization. These catches yielded larger, more marketable fish. Although on one occasion the catch approached 75 kg, on many occasions inclement weather or bad luck resulted in inconsequential catches. This was particularly difficult for fishers who could count on at least enough fish from their traditional shallow reef traps to feed the family. The rising cost of fuel is likely to jeopardize the potential for development of a pelagic fishery using existing technology and infrastructure. Installation of fish aggregating devices (FADs) would probably enhance pelagic fish catches by bringing pelagic species close to shore, minimizing the cost of fishing for them. However, owing to the steep slope of the shelf and the depth of the water close to shore, initial FAD deployment would be expensive

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