Anguilla 
Antigua and Barbuda 
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Historical Local and Traditional Knowledge and Key Messages for Present-Day Holistic Fisheries Management – An Example from Haiti
Susan Singh-Renton1, Wilner Romain2, Sherry Constantine3, and Bruce Lauckner4
PO Box 10, Layou, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Tel: +1784 533 7621,
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
1
49, Rue Palestine, Delmas 75, Haiti. Tel: +509 3403 8455
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
2
Monier, Gros-Islet, Saint Lucia, Tel: +1758 484 2655
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3
44 White Drive, Five Rivers, Aruca, Trinidad and Tobago.
Tel: +1868 642 4129 / +1868 221 6654 Cell/WhatsApp: +1868 707 1660.
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4
ABSTRACT
A sample-based fisher interview survey throughout Haiti during 2002-04 provides comprehensive characterisation of Haiti’s marine capture fisheries sector, information about fisheries performance and fishers’ views/perceptions about management needs. The major resource types targeted by fishers were: reef fish (95%), small coastal pelagics (81%), lobster (43%), large pelagics (28%), and conch (27%). These target species also had good catch value. Over 88% of fishers fished to feed their families and targeted several resource types opportunistically. Catches were destined mainly for local use, although lobster was identified as a priority species for export. Decreases over time were reported for catch amount, catch size caught, and numbers caught for the main resource types. This was mainly due to heavy fishing, as well as adverse weather and environmental conditions. Fishers were knowledgeable and logical-minded, noting the importance of controlling fish sizes harvested, introducing closed seasons, and protecting spawning areas. The harvest and post-harvest practices provide insight about social resilience capacity of community level arrangements, which should continue to play a role in present-day initiatives for post-COVID recovery and the blue economy. Fishers expressed strong confidence in their capacity for conflict resolution and for supporting sustainable development of the industry, via: strengthening of fisher cooperation; cooperation with industry managers with regard to fisher education, innovation ideas; and improved industry controls. This provides a strong incentive for advancing a community/ co-management approach to fisheries management, especially considering Haiti’s extensive coastline and numerous coastal fishing communities. The co-management approach is encouraged also as a medium for preparing the coastal fishing communities to cope with the impacts of climate change.
HOW TO CITE: Singh-Renton, S., W. Romain, S. Constantine And B. Lauckner, 2026. Historical Local and Traditional Knowledge and Key Messages for Present-Day Holistic Fisheries Management – An Example from Haiti. Contribution 6.1, p385-397 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume I: Technical 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=931
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