CUBA 



Shrimp fishing in Cuba has been limited until recently to the 

 bays and shallow coastal waters of the country. The cast net has been 

 the gear generally used. In 1953, a beam trawler was brought into the 

 area for exploratory work in the Gulf of Batabano because of the belief 

 that outer banks existed. During the exploratory operations, pink shrimp, 

 Penaeus duorarun, were caught in one area, the bulk of which measured be- 

 tween 5-1/2 and 6-3/^ inches. A smaller species, Sicyonia typica, measuring 

 h inches in length, and ten times more numerous, was also encountered. 



Most of the exploratory fishing vjas conducted within a triangle 

 formed by lines joining a point west of the Isle of Pines, off Siguanea 

 Bay, the mouth of the Hatiguanico Kiver, and the Batabano anchorage. This 

 is an area of some 386 square miles. The bottom is muddy and contains a 

 certain amount of raollusk shell but is free from vegetation. Depths of 

 2,5 and 3,5 fathoms are common. 



A typical American shrimp boat brought into the area for explor- 

 atory fishing made catches of about 500 pounds of pink shrimp each night. 

 Cuban fishermen have since become faiTiiliar with the operations, and new 

 boats are being added to the fishery. In 1953, 11 shrin^) boats were 

 working the area, and others were under construction. B7 the end of May 

 195U some 50 large shrimp boats were working the area, and at least 30 

 other small craft were reported engaged in shrimping in the Batabano Gulf. 

 Fisheries also exist in other areas, and Cuban boats were reported fishing 

 the Dry Tortugas area in 1955. 



As a result of these recent developments, thousands of pounds of 

 shrimp of good size enter the Cuban market each morning. The expansion 

 of the shrimp fishery has strained the freezing and handling facilities 

 in Cuba. 



In 1955 an agency was established by the Cuban government to 

 promote and regulate the fishing industry. This agency, the Institute 

 Nacional de la Pesca, has general authority to develop and expand the 

 industiy by various means such as educational programs, technical assist- 

 ance, acquisition of modem equipment, administration of distribution 

 centers, and other action designed to foster commercial fishing. The 

 potential of the fish resources surrounding the island has been recognized 

 as a means of substantially increasing the employment opportunities and 

 generally strengthening the econon^r. 



Under the terms of Cuba's basic fishing laws (Decrees 70lt of 

 March 28, 1936, and 973 of May 8, 1939) only Cubans may fish in Cuban 

 waters for commercial or industrial purposes. Fishing vessels must have 

 Cuban registry and flag and must be manned by Cuban citizens. 



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