Abstract

This paper describes the fishing activity in Martinique, French West Indies. It draws up the balance sheet of acquirements about marine resources of the island. The difficulties of fisheries management are discussed with reference to biologists and economists works in the last ten years. We also show how management efforts to decrease fishing pressure on reef resources has induced the implantation of a new technology: the Fish Aggregating Device. The differing histories of development of FADs in the French West Indies are. compared. The positive results from the introduction of the FADs and the estimated risks due to the transferance of fishing pressure on the continental shelf is presented. The use of FADs to enhance the exploitation of marine resources is a concept that justifies a cooperative plan throughout the Caribbean region.

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