Find Fisheries expertise in St Kitts and Nevis

Fisheries, together with agriculture and forestry, contribute 2% of St Kitts and Nevis’ GDP (2008). In 2004, Fisheries were estimated to employ about 600 people in the primary sector, while the number involved in the secondary sector is unknown. Saint Kitts and Nevis has a water area of 20400 km², a shelf area of 845 km², and a coastline of 135km. Marine capture fisheries are mainly artisanal, and capture fisheries are all marine as there is no inland subsector or aquaculture subsector.

There are four major fisheries that are monitored; the demersal or reef/bank, coastal pelagic, ocean pelagic and conch.

Demersal fishing is by far the largest in terms of the number of vessels, with over 80% of registered vessels and over 75% of all registered fishers. As a result of the multi-species nature of the fishery there is no single-species that is targeted. The catch profile for the demersal sector include Doctor Fish, Trigger fish, grunts, Squirrel fish, Snappers, Goat fish, Parrot fish, Groupers, and Lobsters.

The coastal pelagic industry only accounts for 10% of fishermen and 3% of registered vessels. However the pelagic industry accounts for over 40% of the total landings on an annual basis. The catch profile for this industry includes bars, bolleyhoo, jacks and small tunas, as well as a number of other species that are caught in shallow waters, near reefs and on grass beds and nursery areas. The catch profile for coastal pelagics includes Gars, ballyhoo, and jacks.

The catch profile for ocean pelagics includes Dolphin, tuna, and Mackerel. Species caught by scuba diving is principally Queen Conch.

The Government is committed to the conservation and sustainable use of fisheries resources for the benefit of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis. The goal of fisheries management is to develop and increase the potential of marine living resources to meet social, economic and nutritional needs. The Fisheries Act (1984) was amended in 1002 to incorporate provision of the OECS harmonised legislation. The Act covers the establishment of a fisheries advisory committee, fishery access agreements, local and foreign fishing licensing, fish processing establishments, fisheries research, fisheries enforcement and the registration of vessels. Other fisheries related legislation include the National Conservation and Environmental Protection Act (1987), addressing coastal zone management, the Maritime Areas Act (1984), for resources management within the EEZ waters, and the Zoning Ordinance (1991), establishing marine parks in Nevis.

The management of fisheries in St. Kitts is conducted jointly by the fisheries departments on each island. However, the Fisheries Management Unit is part of the Department of Agriculture, which comprises Fisheries, Crops and Livestock programmes. The Department of Agriculture is within the Ministry of Agriculture, Land, Housing and Cooperatives. The fisheries Management Unit is responsible for all aspects of fisheries development and management. Other agencies that assist in Fisheries include the coast guard, customs and Exports, Department of Cooperatives and the Department of Environment.