THE CARIBBEAN AREA — DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 



Marketing and Other Economic Considerations 



Die fishery industries of the Dominican Republic play a relatively unimportant part 

 in its economy. Although fish are not greatly relied on for food in this agricultural 

 country, they are at least fairly abundant off the coast and furnish an important element 

 in the country's food supply. With local food commodties comparatively low-priced through- 

 out the Ptepublic, fish cannot sell in qiiantity at prices high enough to pay for transpor- 

 tation from distant points. 



About 250,000 pounds of fresh fish are purchased yearly by the 70,000 inhabitants of 

 Ciudad TrujiHo. Ihis is sold over market tables in two of the three public markets, and 

 in the third it is sold from enclosed booths equipped with refrigerators. Market fees add 

 about one percent per pound to the prices to consumers. Fish bought at the beaches for 3 

 to 8 cents a pound are here sold to consumers at 8 to 25 cents a pound, and for chickens 

 25 cents a pound is charged, flggs sell for 36 cents a dozen. All of these products sell 

 for much lower prices in the country and in smal 1 towns where middlemen are eliminated and 

 market charges not assessed. In the country, eggs sold at four for 5 cents, chickens at 

 20 to 25 cents each, and fish for 5 to 10 cents per pound. 



Computed in fresh-fish equivalents. Imports of flsheqr products provide, normally, 

 about ^0 million pounds of food annually. Per capita consumption of fish products of all 

 types, both domestic and iinported, in terms of fresh fish, is about 25 pounds per year. 



POTEUTIAL nSHERT INDUSTRIES 



The waters surrounding the Dominican Republic support a large variety of fish and shell- 

 fish. In common, however, with other localities in this part of the Caribbean, the actual 

 abundance of individual species is not high. There are indications of considerable seasonal 

 fluctuations in the supply and abundance of fish. The Republic, however, has fairly con- 

 siderable areas where fishing activity could be increased. Among these areas are the lionte 

 Cristi Bank, Samana Bay, around Cape Engano, around the Isla Saona, in Ocoa Bay, and around 

 Isla Beata. In addition, the two extensive offshore banks. Silver and Navidad, on the north, 

 might be fished with suitable boats and gear. Fishing probably can be intensified on such 

 species as mullet, snook, shrimp, grunts, mojarra, and other inshore species. Bottom species, 

 such as grouper and snapper, probably can be caught in greater numbers. 



The biggest opportunities for expansion of the fisheries, however, appear to be in the 

 direction of the pelagic species. Just offshore, these woiild Include Spanish mackerel, king- 

 fish, bonito, barracuda, and others; and these might be taken by trolling, in gill nets, or by 

 purse-seines if the characteristics of the schools were favorable. Further offshore, there 

 are large migratory schools of tuna and srrordfish. Ihese would best be caught by trolling 

 methods or with harpoons. If bottom conditions are favorable in Samana Bay, the use of fish 

 or shrimp trawls might be profitable, but this activity should be controlled closely. If 

 schools of fish pass close inshore, there should be excellent possibilities in the use of 

 fish pounds or traps. These could furnish cheaply-produced fish for use in a salting and 

 drying industry. Ihe region from Isla Saona to Cape Samana is considered the most suitable, 

 but traps might be successful at Punta Salinas and Punta Palenque. 



With an excellent network of communications, the Dominican Republic should develop a 

 more efficient distribution and marketing system for fresh fish. It is believed that there 

 are sufficient resources at hand to supply a much greater demand. 



Fish-salting and drying industries can be established using the cheaper varieties of 

 fish such as mullet, snook and shark. The resources of these species can supply a great 

 increase in the catch. 



In general, it may be stated that the marine fishery resources of the Dominican 

 Republic are capable of producing a considerably increased yield of fish. 



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