Draft: Aquaculture and Fisheries Development in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

Goodwin, Melvin; Sandifer, Paul

Draft Report to United States Congress Office of Technology Assessment. The nearshore fishing industry of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands is a multi-million dollar industry, producing excess of seven million pounds of seafood in 1982. In addition, nearshore resources have high aesthetic value and are an important component of the tourist industry. Major habitats include coral reefs, mangroves, and sea grass beds, many of which are threatened by development and exploitation patterns not consistent with sustained use. Harvest of traditional fishery resources typically approaches or exceeds maximum sustainable yield. Current use of nearshore resources is constrained by relatively small size of productive areas, multispecies nature of exploited stocks, ciguatera, and susceptibility to storm damage. Management systems are in place which, with modification, can significantly improve use of these resources. Despite limitations, there are potentials for development of capture and culture fisheries which can significantly benefit the U.S. Caribbean territories. Recommendations for achieving these benefits include development of management plans for major nearshore ecosystems, limitation of harvest effort, support to local resource management initiatives, ciguatera research, and collaboration with other countries of the Lesser Antilles. Specific recommendations are provided for government agencies and private institutions.