The
Development Planning Unit
Government of the British Virgin Islands

NATIONAL INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

Fisheries Development in the BVI
Emerging Issues
(continued)

2.O   DESCRIPTION OF THE FISHING INDUSTRY

2.1 THE FISHING AREA

The British Virgin Islands are located on the same geological shelf as Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, with the exception of St. Croix. The Caribbean Research Institute (1969) gave a concise description of the shelf. The total shelf area is approximately 10,393 km.sq (3,026 square nautical miles) of which about 3,130 km.sq. belong to the BVI. About 90% of the shelf floor is no deeper than 60m. (200 ft). The floor of the shelf is dotted with coral reefs and rocks with a total slope length of 176 km. BVI has an Exclusive Economic Zone of 84,050 km.sq. The pelagic area, beyond the shallow shelf belonging to the BVI is approximately 74,813 km.sq. ( 83 000sq.mls.). Several banks rise above the general shelf floor but the most notable ones associated with fishing are the Barracuda Banks or Sea Mount to the south east of Virgin Gorda, the Barracouta Banks or North Drop to the north of Jost Van Dyke.

2.2 THE FISHERIES

The three main types of fisheries presently operating in the BVI are the Artisanal ( Commercial ) Fisheries , Recreational Fisheries and Offshore Pelagic Fishery .

2.21 Artisanal ( Commercial ) Fisheries :

These employ small boats and traditional fishing methods. Alimoso and Davies (1991) found that there were about 300 artisanal fishermen operating in BVI waters. Fifty percent of these fishermen own fishing gear and boats while the other 50% do not own any gear or craft and act as helpers or employees of the gear owners. Records available at the Conservation and Fisheries Dept. show that there are 150 registered boats, 80 % of which are less than 25ft. in length. The main fishing gears used are fish traps, hook and lines and fishing nets (mainly gill nets and seine nets). Table 2.1 gives a summary of fishing methods used and the common types of fish caught by these methods .

Most artisanal fishing is carried out on the shelf particularly in the areas around Anegada, east and north of Tortola and Jost Van Dyke including the Banks. Other areas are located around Virgin Gorda, Peter Island, Cooper Island and Salt Island. A relatively small amount of hook and line ( vertical longlining ) is conducted in deep water around the edge of the shelf, at the Barracuda Bank to the east of Virgin Gorda and the Barracouta , Kingfish, Turtle Head and Whale Banks to the north of Jost Van Dyke.

2.22 Offshore Pelagic Longline Fishery:

Various assessments of BVI’s pelagic longline fishery have been carried out over the years ( Alimoso, 1992 ; MRAG, 1993 ). These studies have shown that between 1984 and 1990, 22 large foreign-based longliners were issued fishing licenses. Total annual catch from the fishery averaged about 90 tons/year ( 200,000 lbs. ) for the period 1984 – 1990. Since then no licenses have been issued to foreign fishing vessels due to the dissatisfaction with the benefits such licensing has generated.

The Government’s action in placing a moratorium on large scale commercial longline fishing was also prompted by the general opinion – particularly from inshore fishermen, that such activities of large, foreign vessels necessarily interact with and deplete the near-shore and probably in-shore resources, thus depriving nationals of the full benefits available from those fisheries . Two locally based longliners started operating in the BVI in 1985 and 1992. The vessels operate out of Anegada between 15 – 20 miles off- shore.

2.23 Recreational Fisheries:

Recreational fisheries are classified into Big Game Sport Fishery and Pleasure Fishery. In practice the dynamic nature and similarity of operations in the two fisheries makes it difficult to effectively differentiate between them. Past reports by Walters ( 1983 ) and S. Alimoso ( 1993 ) described the two as follows – :

(a) Big Game Sport Fishery: Involving professional angling aimed at big game fish such as blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) and sail fish (Istiophorus albicans). Vessel size range between 25 ft. – 50 ft. in length.

(b) Pleasure Fishery: Involving amateur angling, harvesting such small fishes as tarpon (Tarpon atlanticus) and bonefish (Albula vulpes). Vessel sizes are between 17ft. – 40ft. in length.

The limited documentation on the performance of the recreational fisheries in the BVI is a constraint to the determination of its potential for development. The Conservation and Fisheries department has been licensing recreational fishing vessels from 1987. A review of data on licensed vessels from 1987 – 1995 shows that a total of 760 licenses have been issued, starting from 24 vessels in 1987 to a peak of 127 in 1989 and 117 in 1993. Lowest values in the last nine years were recorded in 1994 and 1995. Issuing of licenses was suspended from the later part of 1995 to December 1996, due to a review of licensing procedures. Recreational fishing license are also given to captains and crew of sailing boats, who mainly fish for small inshore game fish by trolling. Table 2.2 and Fig.2.1 show the distribution of recreational fishing boats licensed by the Conservation and Fisheries Dept. from 1987 – 1995 and their normal home base.

The increased number of vessels fishing in the BVI reflects easy access to BVI fishing grounds. It is important to note that only 28.2% of licensed boats are based in BVI, which is an indication of the level of local participation in the fishery. Further analysis of the data showed that 63.4 % of the vessels are based in the USVI, a trend that has been maintained for the past six years ( fig. 2.2 ). Detailed information on the catch rate and landings of fishes caught by recreational vessels is not available, however the practice is for these foreign-based vessels to land their catch at their home base after a day’s fishing. Since foreign boats make up a large proportion of the recreational fisheries fleet, substantial quantities of high quality fish are taken and landed outside the BVI.

As part of its 1997 work plan the Conservation and Fisheries Dept. is making efforts to develop the locally based sport fishing industry and improve the management and conservation of pelagic stocks targeted by sport fishermen. In liaison with the BVI Anglers Club, BVI Tourist Board and Fishermen’s Cooperatives, the Dept. could develop and market a 1997 Sport Fishing Calendar.

FIGURE 2.2B
DISTRIBUTION OF RECREATIONAL FISHING BOATS LICENSED FROM 1987 - 1995
LOCATION OF MOORING SITES

2.3 FISH RESOURCE DISTRIBUTION AND STOCK STRUCTURE

The fish resources of the BVI can be divided into five categories as follows:

Shallow Water Reef Fish – includes many of the shallow water fish species associated with coral reefs. Those of economic importance are parrot fish, grunts, porgies, trigger fish, surgeon fish, goat fish, angel fish and trunk fish.

Deep Slope and Bank Fish – composed mainly of snappers and groupers

Coastal Pelagic Fish – includes schooling fish such as bonitos, blue runners, yellowtail and mackerels.

Large Pelagic Fish – such as tunas, swordfish, dolphin, wahoo and bill fishes.

Benthic Invertebrates – includes crustaceans and molluscs such as lobster, conch and whelk.

Table 2.3 gives a summary of the fishery resources of commercial importance, their distribution, stock structure and migratory patterns.

Other fish resources are marine turtles and the Anegada mullet ( Curemal ). This species of mullet is only found in the inland ponds of Anegada and is mainly for domestic consumption.