Quick Facts:

• Contribution to GDP: Overall percentage contribution to GDP by the agricultural sector was 7.3%, with fisheries contributing about 0.4% (ESSJ Report 2001).
• Fishing Area:
• The inshore fishery in the coastal waters of the main island, including nine proximal banks, usually subdivided into North Coast and South Coast.
• The fishery on the Pedro and Morant Banks.
• Deep-sea fishing, in all deep waters around the island and banks.
• The Jamaica/Colombia Joint Regime Area near Alice Shoal.
• Inland (riverine) areas, especially large river systems (e.g., Black River).
• Fishermen: The Marine Capture fishery of Jamaica had 15336 registered fishers as at the end of December 2004. Most of these are artisanal fishermen operating from open canoe or reinforced fiberglass plastic (RFP) type boats powered by either outboard motors or oars.
• Landing sites: 190 including two (2) on the Pedro Cayes and one (1) on Morant Caye (2004).
• Fish Imports:
  
  

  	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
  Quantity (kg)	30,350,457	36,057,765	33,547,533	31,238,013	66,385,542
  Value (J$)	2,191,342,690.00	2,214,864,814	2,733,551,666	2,798,298,434	3,378,890,984

• Fish Exports:
  

  	2000	2001	2002	2003
  Quantity (kg)	997,510	1,582,149	605,999	936,306
  Value (J$)	42,625,571	540,253,239	265,482,376	460,678,076

• Fish Processors: Minimum 10 (categorized as major or minor Fish Processors, based on the degree of processing).
• Exporters: Minimum 10.
• Vessel Categories: There were 4274 registered boats at the end of December 2004, operating in the industry, ranging from 3.6 to 9 m open canoe type boats (95%) to 15 M – 30 M decked vessel type (5 %).

Notes:

1. Fish Production from Landings
   

   	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
   Finfish Conch Lobster Shrimp Others Tilapia	5578.75 1821.20 269.63 67.04 10.25 4,200.00	4160.98 1700.00 169.66 14.54 - 4,300.00	6283.74 1366.00 329.90 4.49 - 4,500.00	4585.55 0 517.3 36.67 - ~4,500.00	4348.57 946 943.39 38.5 51.38 ~5,000.00	7,000.00 946.00 358.67 37.54 144.00 5851.44	4594.92 504.25 300.00 37.00 456.00 2512.5	8811.03 550.00 134.49 4200
   Total Marine Fish Production Total Tilapia Production	7,746.87 4,200.00	6,045.18 4,300.00	7,984.13 4,500.00	5,139.52 4,500.00	6,327.84 5,000.00	8,342.21 5,995.44	5,436.17 2,968.50	9,495.50 4,200.00
   Total Fish Production	11,946.87	10,345.18	12,484.13	9,639.52	11,327.84	14,337.65	8,404.67	13,695.52

Related Link:

• Ministry Responsible for Fisheries

Fisheries exploited in Jamaican Waters

SMALL COASTAL PELAGICS

Fishery for Opsitonema oglinum, (Atlantic thread herring, locally known as sprat), Harengula jaguana (Scaled sardine) and Harengula humeralis (Red-ear sardine, locally known as pinchers). Opistonema oglinum is the most heavily sought after species in this fishery. Bait fish caught in this fishery (eg. Harengulids and Engraulids), caught by trammel and lift nets is very important as it supports the artisanal offshore (line) fishery and the recreational fishery.

DEMERSAL AND REEF FISHERIES

Snappers, Parrot Fishes, Doctor Fishes

This fishery is generally for fish living over coral reef area. Areas where these fishes can be found: Rosalind Bank, Pedro bank, North Coast, South Coast, Morant Bank, other offshore banks and Alice Shoal. The coral reef finfish account for the largest catch category in Jamaica fisheries. The vast majority (98%) of the catch remains in Jamaica for either local or tourist consumption.

LOBSTER FISHERY

Spiny Lobsters

The Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) is widely distributed in the coastal waters and the offshore banks around Jamaica. Catch of spiny lobster comes mainly from the Pedro Bank (60%). Lobster is a high priced resource and represents an important component of the total value of the landings of the Jamaican commercial fisheries. Its’ production supports a local market (mainly the hospitality industry) and an export market. The export market earns an average of US$4-6 million per year.

SHRIMP FISHERY

White Shrimp (Penaeus schmitti)

The shrimp fishery of Jamaica is of significant economic importance, especially in the Kingston Harbour. The licensing and registration system of the Fisheries Division (LRS) records 44 boats (motorized and non-motorized) and 153 fishermen that fish for shrimp.

Hunts Bay is the major landing site in Jamaica. All the shrimp vessels in Kingston (Greenwich Town, Hunts Bay, Port Henderson, Hellshire and Port Royal) fish in Kingston Harbour and land their catch at Hunts Bay

CONCH FISHERY

The Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) fishery is the most valuable foreign exchange fishery in Jamaica. This resource is exploited on the island shelf and offshore banks. The predominant fishery occurs on the Pedro Bank. At present it is estimated that up to 95% of the conch landed in Jamaica originates from the Pedro Bank. However, small amounts are also fished from the Formigas Bank and Morant Banks. The amount of conch landed from the island shelf is so far not quantified but may be significant.

DEEP SLOPE FISHERY

Deep Slope, Snappers and Groupers

The two most targeted species are Lutjanus vivanus (silk snapper) and Etelis oculatus (queen snapper locally called satin).

The deepslope fishing areas within Jamaican waters is relatively small. Catches from the deep slope represent approximately 10% of total annual catch of marine fish. The fishery needs to be better studied. There is also need for increased awareness among fishers of the vulnerability of the stock and the potential for over-fishing.

OFFSHORE PLELAGICS

Mackerels, Tunas, Wahoo

This fishery is a small fishery accessed mainly with mechanized boats. This fishery is also used for tournaments and other sport fishing related activities.