Anguilla 
Antigua and Barbuda 
Grenada 
Bahamas 
Barbados 
Belize 
Dominica 
Guyana 
Haiti 
Jamaica 
Montserrat 
St. Kitts and Nevis 
St. Lucia 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines 
Suriname 
Trinidad and Tobago 
Turks and Caicos 
National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture in SURINAME
OVERVIEW
Suriname's marine ecosystems, nestled within the Amazon-Guianas ecoregion, are impacted by the North Brazil Current and the Guianas Current, resulting in low-salinity, nutrient-rich waters. The marine biodiversity, including estuaries, mudflats, sandy beaches, and mangrove forests, are profoundly influenced by the Amazon River plume. The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Suriname features a wide continental shelf, transitioning from turbid brown waters near the coast to nutrient-poor blue oceanic waters further offshore. Such zoning affects marine life distribution, from estuarine catfishes to offshore pelagic species.
The fisheries landscape of Suriname is diverse, with inshore activities characterized by small wooden boats using an assortment of nets. The coastal fisheries, distinguished by a transition from brown to green waters, utilize gillnets that drift with tidal movements. Offshore, fisheries is predominantly (semi-) industrial, focused on demersal fishes, shrimps, and large pelagic species.
Suriname's fisheries are economically pivotal. In 2022, the sector harvested 30,847 tons of fish and 2,117 tons of shrimp, contributing to 2.3% of the nation's GDP. A significant fraction of Suriname's working population, specifically 3,950 fishers and 2,193 ancillary workers, relies on this industry. Consequently, the stability of the fishing industry holds paramount importance for the nation's socioeconomic fabric.
HOW TO CITE: Fisheries Directorate, Suriname, 2026. National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Suriname. Contribution 10.15, p 166-173 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume II: National Reports on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture. Papers presented at the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference, 28-31 August 2023. CRFM Special Publication No. 37, CRFM Secretariat https://www.crfm.int/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=969
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