THE FISHERIES AND FISHERY RESOURCES IN THE BRITISH ^JVEST INDIES 



(Eastern Group) 



INTRODUCnON 



The fisheries and fishery industries of the Eastern Group of the British West Indies 

 were studied during April and May ig^+S, as a part of a survey of the Caribbean area made 

 by a lilission of the United States Government under an arraJigement between the Fish and 

 Wildlife Service of the United States Department of the Interior, the Office of the Coordi- 

 nator of Inter-American Affairs, and the Anglo-American Caribbean Commission. 



At a meeting of the Anglo-American Caribbean Commission at Trinidad in March 19'i2, the 

 critical food situation in the various British Colonies of the Caribbean area was discussed; 

 and, in recognition thereof, the Commissicn decided that an immediate survey should be made 

 of the fisheries to determine their present and potential yield, their contribution to the 

 economy of the area, and possibilities for their immediate expansion to replace imported 

 food products. 



Prior to this time, the Departaent of the Interior and the Office of the Coordinator 

 of Inter-American Affairs were developing a program for a factual survey of the fisheries 

 and fishery resources of the various American Republics in the Caribbean area. Learning 

 that the Anglo-American Caribbean Commission was interested in similar studies in the East- 

 em Group of the British West Indies, a conference was held of the three agencies concerned. 

 As a res\ilt, it was decided that the personnel selected for the surveys in the American 

 Republics would assist the Coimnission in their studies. 



The survey was xinder the direction of Reginald H. Fiedler, Chief of the Division of 

 Fishery Industries, Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Department of the Interior, 

 and the field party in the British West Indies consisted of Milton J. Lobell, Fishery 

 Engineer, and Clarence R. Lucas, Fishery Economist of the Service, and Herbert H. Brown, 

 Director of Fisheries Investigations, Development and Welfare in the British West Indies. 



The following sections were prepared and submitted to the Anglo-American Caribbean 

 Commission immediately after the survey of the Eastern Group of the British West Indies had 

 been completed in May 19^1*2, Consequently, they do not have the same general editorial form 

 as the reports for the other Caribbean areas.' More complete reports have already been 

 published {19A2) by Herbert H. Brown, the British member of the survey party. Itiese include 

 reports on the fisheries of Barbados, Trinidad, Togabo, and British Guiana. Farther detail- 

 ed reports are to be made by him on the fisheries of the remainder of the British Colonies in 

 the area. 



lliis report is preseniied here for the purpose of drawing attention to immediate needs 

 of this area in order to assist in maintaining fish production at a more nonnal level. It 

 should, therefore, be regarded as a plan for emergency action rather than a long-range 

 development plan. 



The Area in General 



The fisheries and fishery resources of the islands in the Eastern Group of the British 

 West Indies have a social and economic importance not generally realized. The 1,018,000 

 inhabitants (excluding British Guiana) normally consume 25^ million pounds of fishery pro- 

 ducts per year, valued at more than 2 million dollars. These products include Hj million 

 povinds of fishery imports valued at 1-1/5 million dollars and 11 million pounds of locally- 

 produced, fresh fish valued at l-l/lO million dollars as sold by fishermen. 



The local production of fresh fish is harvested by approximately 6,936 fishermen, 

 equipped witn about 2,340 boats and gear estimated to number 22,000 fish-pots, 250 seines, 

 150 gill nets, 5,000 lines, and other less important gear. Regular employment in the 



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