Find Fisheries expertise in Bahamas, The
- Overview of the industry
- Fishery bodies
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries contribute only 2 per cent of The Bahamas’ GDP (2007). The fisheries create over 9000 jobs; all based on the marine sector, and is as such an important livelihood. The vast majority of these are fishermen (95 per cent), while about 5 per cent work at buying stations and processing facilities. With a shelf area of 116,550 km2, most of the commercial fishing takes place on the shallow banks off The Bahamas.
The Bahamas is a net export of seafood products, as in 2007 the value of exports totaled $43 million while the value of imports was about $18 million. The main export markets include the USA, Canada, Japan, France and Germany.
The most important species in the catch profile include the spiny lobster, snappers, queen conch, groupers and jacks. However, spiny lobster is by far the most important catch, accounting for 84 per cent of total landings in live weight in 2007, and the vast majority of fishermen target spiny lobster, and as a result, the spiny lobster forms the backbone of the Bahamian fishing industry. The queen conch is second in terms of value and third in terms of weight. While 90 per cent of spiny lobster are exported, conch and fish are usually locally consumed, with tourists an important consumer market.
Aquaculture on the other hand is a negligible industry, with tilapia the only aquaculture practice in freshwater.
Sport fishing is a major tourist attraction for The Bahamas, especially for the Family Islands. The catch profile for sports fishing include blue marlin, white marlin, wahoo, dolphin, tunas and bonefish.
| Fisheries organisations in Bahamas, The | |
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| Department of Marine Resources |
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| Paradise Fisheries Ltd |
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