THE CARIBBKAN ARE& 



the second group has been available to shore fishermen only at certain times of the year, 

 but may be taken, possibly, in quantity offshore at other times. Hardly anything is known 

 of the distribution, abundance, migration routes, or seasonal occurrence of the pelagic 

 fishes. Reports, however, indicate that they appear in the Windward Island passages and 

 around Tobago, off the coast of Venezuela, off the south coast of Cuba, and in the Bahamas. 

 Since the abundance of these migratory fishes is not directly affected by the low productiv- 

 ity of the Caribbean Sea, there is some reason to believe that considerable amounts might be 

 taken with proper methods. Limited migratory species seem most abimdant in the Venezuela- 

 Trinidad-Tobago region but they do occur in considerable numbers elsewhere as well. They 

 are not now being utilized to the extent possible, and this is due chiefly to the limit ed 

 radius of the present fishing methods. 



From all evidence available and after consideration of the other habitat types, it is 

 suggested that the fisheries for the pelagic species — both inshore and offshore — offer the 

 greatest possibilities for ilshing expansion in the Caribbean area. 



Other Fishery Resources ; — To the fish species may be added the spiny lobsters, shiimp, 

 turtles, shark, and irtiales. 



Spiny lobsters (Panulirus spp .) occur practically throughout the Caribbean, Their 

 abundance varies according to the degree of fishing and on the amount of coral-reef area 

 available. Considerable quantities are taken, particularly in Cuban waters, but several 

 enterprises based on canning these Crustacea have failed. TViis has been due, usually, to the 

 irregularity and dimunition of supply. There are possibilities for local, small-scale indus- 

 tries based on lobsters if the grounds to be fished are extensive enough so almost immediate 

 depletion does not occur. Continuous, successful operation of a lobster fishery depends up- 

 on systanatic regulation of fishing intensity. 



Shrimp are found in greater or lesser amounts in the Caribbean area, most usually in 

 the neighborhood of lagoons, river mouths, and estuaries. There is reason to believe that 

 fairly extensive shrin^) fisheries can be developed in localized areas* 



Turtles in the Caribbean area have been fished quite extensively, particularly by the 

 Cayman Islanders on the Nicaraguan coast. Turtles are also taken on the Costa Rican coast 

 and elsewhere in consj-derable numbers. A fishery at a fairly-high level could be maintained 

 with adequate control measures if the depleted areas could be rehabilitated to some semblance 

 of the original abimdance. 



Sharks of various species are found in all waters in the Caribbean. "Biere has been, for 

 years, some attention paid to shark fishing — formerly for the hides and fins, but more recent- 

 ly for the vitamin A content in the livers. Eicperience has shown that stocks of sharks in a 

 given area are soon depleted below the point of successful commercial operations. With a 

 stoppage of fishing, however, the sharks gradually return. As with the other species mention- 

 ed above, it would appear that the fishing area should be fsiirly large in order to spread the 

 fishing strain to conform with the rate of replacement. 



Whales are found from time to tijne, especially in the Windward Islands area. At one time, 

 whaling was carried on as a commercisil enterprise, but this activity has almost entirely dis- 

 appeared. The lo-.v ebb of abundance makes organized ccramercial whaling quite impossible at this 

 time. 



Conclusions 



1. The Carl :bean Sea is not a greatly productive area. 



2. The most productive areas within this Sea are the lagoons and estuaries. 



3. Most of the habitat types will stand further fishing, but to a limited extent, and 

 this added strain must be controlled. 



A. The pelagic fish offer the greatest opportunities for fishery developnent . 



5. Other lishery resources such as lobsters, shrimp, turtles, and whales are available, 

 but in limited amounts, 



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