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As part of the work plan of the REBYC II LAC project in Trinidad and Tobago, a study was conducted by the University of the West Indies to understand the economic, social and environmental impacts of current fishing practices derived from the shrimp trawl fishing sector.  There is a need to reduce bycatch from shrimp trawl fisheries in Trinidad using modified gear to increase efficiency and fishers’ profits. Communities like Otaheite and Orange Valley, which rely heavily on the shrimp trawl bycatch, are also vulnerable due to their high dependency on landings for food security, income generation and employment. Therefore, the overall objective of this Study was to provide a platform for the creation of a better understanding of the shrimp/bottom trawl fishery sector and its impact on the livelihoods of these two pilot fishing communities in Trinidad and Tobago.

Results of this study show that, overall, an estimate of 50,801 commercial and non-commercial fish are discarded per trip for a commercial double-rigged trawler (also known as a Type IV trawler). Discard weight is significant, at approximately 84% of the total catch; while juvenile fish discarded represented almost 70% of the total number of fish discarded. The total market value of discarded commercial fish for a double-rigged trawler was estimated at TT$18,596 per trip, of which White Salmon represented approximately 51.7% of the total value, followed by Catfish (5.8%), Snook (4.9%) and Sardine (3.8%).  Based on an annual average of 3,125 trips (for 2006 to 2014), approximately TT$58,114,750 is lost in commercial fish discards in the shrimp trawl fishery each year, from Type IV trawlers alone. In 2018, the provisional contribution of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Sector was TT$ 738.3 million to Trinidad and Tobago’s GDP at current market prices. Therefore, the estimated loss of value from commercial discards represents 7.9% of the value of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Sector for 2018. If the juvenile commercial fish discarded per trip were allowed to reach maturity and then brought to market, they would be worth over TT$66,000, of which Cro-Cro accounts for 41.8%, followed by Cavalli (20.9%), Catfish (14.5%) and Snook (8.1%).  Lost future income from juvenile commercial fish discarded by double-rigged trawlers would amount to more than TT$207 million each year, which translates to approximately 28.1% of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Sector contribution to the 2018 GDP. Urgent steps are therefore needed to implement the use of effective Bycatch Reduction Devices. This will improve the sustainability of the value chain as significant discards are likely to cause reduced bycatch in future years. This reduction could be seen in the near future if the affected stocks are already fully fished or overfished.

Combined monthly trawl bycatch landings at Otaheite and Orange Valley amount to more than 45 tonnes, of which 8.2% is given away to friends and family members, who are largely in the local fishing community (based on data received from fishers). Fishers also take home 2.4% of these bycatch landings. Twenty-three percent of bycatch landings are estimated to be sold at the pier at Orange Valley, which is a non-market site. Of the market sales, 50% are made by fishers selling directly to retail sellers. The other 50% is sold to wholesalers. Only 1.9% of bycatch is estimated to be commercially processed and only 0.2% informally processed. In terms of roles and gender, participation in the Shrimp Trawl Value Chain is largely male-dominated. For input supply, women are largely involved in the sale of ice. At the Municipal Market, 25% of the surveyed vendors were women, who managed their own stalls.

Opportunities for training and participation in making value-added products, such as salted or smoked fish, are based on actors having training within or near their communities, especially for women, who have other family responsibilities that preclude their leaving the community for extended periods of time. Long term management requires therefore, the preparation of a Shrimp Trawl Bycatch Management Plan. It is recommended that the Management Plan should take into account, among other factors, measures to address some of the key gaps along the Shrimp Trawl Bycatch Value Chain.

Key recommendations from this study  focused on training for fishery actors in the production of secondary value-added products, such as salted and smoked fish, the introduction of a more competitive wholesale market arrangement in Otaheite, the utilization of the Retail Market at Otaheite (currently unused, but with adequate facilities), the introduction of HACCP and other health and safety standards in the industry, adequate data collection and the promotion of the use of fish waste to produce fish meal.