Abstract

Fish stocks on the narrow fringing reefs of the north coast of Jamaica are highly over-exploited. Since 1988, the Fisheries Improvement Programme (FIP) of the University of the West Indies has been monitoring the fishery at Discovery Bay and working with local fishers towards better fishery management. Through its community development and education programmes, FIP has encouraged (I) development of a fishers’ organization, the Alloa Discovery Bay Fishermen’s Association (DBFA) (2) use of a larger mesh size for fishtraps, and (3) creation of a fishery reserve.\The mesh exchange programme initiated in 1991, resulted in the exchange of 250 small mesh fishtraps (1” and 1.25”) for larger mesh fishtraps (1.5”). As a consequence, catches of 1.25” fishtraps (per haul), after an initial decline, were significantly higher (23% by weight and 42% by number) in 1994 than in 1990, and catches of 1.5” fishtraps were significantly higher (50% by number) in 1994 than in 1991. Increased catch rates in both 1.25” and 1.5” fishtraps may indicate the beginning of fish population recovery. However, catch rates (as kg per week and number of fish per week) differ markedly between large and small mesh fishtraps, with the 1.5” fishtraps currently catching considerably less than 1.25” fishtraps (1.74 kg or 9 fish per week compared with 2.62 kg or 23 fish per week). It is, therefore, not surprising that fishers currently have mixed attitudes towards the programme and management remains a significant challenge.\Even though local fishers are a diverse, divided group, some have come together and created the DBFA and with the help of FIP, have secured grants for a fishing gear retail outlet, for supplies of large mesh to sell, and for construction of improved facilities. DBFA is now seeking more authority in the management of its fishing area, beginning with the creation of a fishery reserve. At the same time, FIP is extending its fishery education to four neighboring fishing beaches, assisted this time by fishers from DBFA, and will also offer mesh exchanges there.

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