FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS ROME, August 1994

based on the work of

P. ESPEUT, Y. HARACHE, G. LEMARIE, J.M. RICARD
(FAO consultants)

This report was prepared during the course of the project identified on the title page. The conclusions and recommandations given in the report are those considered appropriate at the time of its preparation. They may be modified in the light of further knowledge gained at subsequent stages of the project.

The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the United Nations or the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
ROME, August 1994

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction

1.1 Motivation for the project
1.1.1. Background and justification
1.2 Objective of the assistance and workplan
1.2.1. Objective of the assistance
1.2.2. Workplan
1.3 Methodology

2. The fishery sector in Jamaica (fishing and aquaculture)

2.1 Consumption of aquatic products
2.2 Fish production
2.2.1. Marine catch
2.2.2. Existing aquaculture production in Jamaica
2.2.3. Imports and exports
2.3 A socioeconomic analysis of finfish aquaculture as an additional resource

3. Species and technologies available for marine cage fish farming

3.1 Some general characteristics of marine aquaculture
3.1.1. Biology
3.1.2. Market value and production costs
3.2 General steps from research to development
3.3 Examples of aquaculture having reached commercial development
3.3.1. Cage farming relying on the capture of wild juveniles : yellowtail culture in Japan
3.3.2. Existing aquaculture production relying on hatchery-produced fry
3.4 An example of tropical fin fish aquaculture having reached the pilot phase: the Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellata) in Martinique
3.5 Other tropical marine species presently investigated with special reference to the Caribbean region
3.5.1. Selection of finfish species for aquaculture in French Polynesia
3.5.2. Selection of finfish species for aquaculture in Martinique
3.5.3. Status of other species investigated in the Caribbean region
3.6 Some documented cases of failure in aquaculture development
3.6.1. Biological and behavioural factors
3.6.2. Environmental maladaptation
3.6.3. Lack of competitivity on international markets
3.7 Recommended environmental practices

4. The context for cage culture of marine fish in Jamaica

4.1 Site availability
4.1.1. Site selection criteria
4.1.2. Methodology
4.1.3. Results
4.2 Availability of juveniles
4.3 Human resources
4.3.1. Agents for development : large private enterprises or fishermen's cooperatives ?
4.3.2. Research and development phases
4.3.3. Administration of a marine cage-culture programme
4.3.4. Research
4.4 Availability of local capital for research and development
4.4.1. The availability of local capital for research
4.4.2. The availability of local capital for development
4.5 The legal environment

5. Conclusions

6. References

Annex 1 : Detailed charts of sites having an interesting potentia

Annex 2 : Proposed programme for aquaculture development in Jamaica

Justification and overview

Project profile n^o1: Evaluation of the micro-economic feasibility of alternative fish rearing systems in Jamaica

Project profile n^o2: Aquaculture diversification & regional cooperation in fish farming

- subproject n^o2.1: Workshop on tropical marine fish farming in the Caribbean

- subproject n^o2.2: Assessment of the potential of local marine species for marine cage farming

Project profile n^o3: Education & training in aquaculture in Jamaica

Annex 3 : Contribution of fish products to animal protein consumption in Jamaica 65