The The Kingston Harbour Kingston Harbour

FisheriesFisheries

Presenter:Presenter: G. Andre Kong, Director of FisheriesG. Andre Kong, Director of Fisheries

November 6, 2003, November 6, 2003, Conference Centre.Conference Centre.

KINGSTON HARBOURKINGSTON HARBOUR

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Arrangement of PresentationArrangement of Presentation

•• Major elements of the Kingston Harbour Major elements of the Kingston Harbour Fisheries.Fisheries.

•• Social and economic importance.Social and economic importance.•• Major threats to the Kingston Harbour Major threats to the Kingston Harbour

Fisheries.Fisheries.•• Factors contributing to these threats and Factors contributing to these threats and

problems.problems.•• Current issues and initiatives related to Current issues and initiatives related to

the Kingston Harbour Fisheries.the Kingston Harbour Fisheries.•• Concluding remarks.Concluding remarks.

Major Elements of the Kingston Major Elements of the Kingston Harbour Fisheries.Harbour Fisheries.

•• The Kingston Harbour support The Kingston Harbour support recreational, subsistence and commercial recreational, subsistence and commercial fisheries. fisheries.

•• Very little information is available on the Very little information is available on the recreational and subsistence fisheries recreational and subsistence fisheries activities.activities.

•• 3,386 registered commercial fishers 3,386 registered commercial fishers •• 8 fishing beaches and other landing sites 8 fishing beaches and other landing sites

that surrounds the Kingston Harbour. that surrounds the Kingston Harbour. •• 50% depend directly on the harbour for 50% depend directly on the harbour for

their livelihood.their livelihood.

Major Elements of the Kingston Major Elements of the Kingston Harbour Fisheries.Harbour Fisheries.

•• Other 50% depend on the harbour for bait to Other 50% depend on the harbour for bait to exploit other fisheries outside the Kingston exploit other fisheries outside the Kingston Harbour. Harbour.

•• Fisheries resources includes: lobsters, shrimps, Fisheries resources includes: lobsters, shrimps, conch, coastal pelagics (sprat, etc.), reef and conch, coastal pelagics (sprat, etc.), reef and reef associated finfish (snapper, parrot etc.) and reef associated finfish (snapper, parrot etc.) and larger pelagics such as dolphinfish, Kingfish, larger pelagics such as dolphinfish, Kingfish, mackerels and Jacks. mackerels and Jacks.

•• Fishing gears used in the harbour: nets and Fishing gears used in the harbour: nets and hook and line. Fish traps and SCUBA gear are hook and line. Fish traps and SCUBA gear are used to a lesser extent.used to a lesser extent.

Major Elements of the Kingston Major Elements of the Kingston Harbour Fisheries.Harbour Fisheries.

Boats: 998Boats: 998140140346346Port HendersonPort Henderson

2828121121Harbour HeadHarbour Head

5454267267HellshireHellshire

179179500500Port RoyalPort Royal

192192831831Hunts BayHunts Bay

116116424424Kingston F. ComplexKingston F. Complex

122122327327Rae TownRae Town

Fishers: 3, 386Fishers: 3, 386167167552552Greenwich FarmGreenwich Farm

TotalTotalBoatsBoatsFishersFishersF. BeachF. Beach

Information based on Fisheries Division’s Licensing and Registration System

SocioSocio--economic importance of The economic importance of The Kingston Harbour Fisheries.Kingston Harbour Fisheries.

•• Nutrition and Food Security: Providing some Nutrition and Food Security: Providing some 1100 MT of fish in sufficiently diverse forms to 1100 MT of fish in sufficiently diverse forms to be available to the poor and rich alike. be available to the poor and rich alike.

•• Sprat is a source of Sprat is a source of ““affordableaffordable”” fish protein for fish protein for many within the Kingston and St. Andrew and many within the Kingston and St. Andrew and surrounding areassurrounding areas. .

•• protein that is available all year roundprotein that is available all year round. . •• Religious and cultural significance especially in Religious and cultural significance especially in

the corporate area as it is a well sort after the corporate area as it is a well sort after commodity during the Easter and almost a must commodity during the Easter and almost a must on the menu at nine night ceremonies. on the menu at nine night ceremonies.

SocioSocio--economic importance of economic importance of The Kingston Harbour Fisheries.The Kingston Harbour Fisheries.

•• Poverty alleviation. Poverty alleviation. •• Many of the Kingston Harbour Fishers are Many of the Kingston Harbour Fishers are

the poorest and most marginalized and the poorest and most marginalized and have little or no other economic activity have little or no other economic activity available to them. Many from other available to them. Many from other sectors turn to the Harbour fisheries sectors turn to the Harbour fisheries seasonally, or permanently when faced seasonally, or permanently when faced with unemployment and poverty. with unemployment and poverty.

SocioSocio--economic importance of The economic importance of The Kingston Harbour Fisheries.Kingston Harbour Fisheries.

•• Employment opportunities for many, especially Employment opportunities for many, especially those in the sothose in the so--called called ““inner city.inner city.”” There are There are Fish harvesters (i.e. the fishers) pot makers, Fish harvesters (i.e. the fishers) pot makers, boat builders, net makers etc. etc.boat builders, net makers etc. etc.

•• There are even persons who earns money by There are even persons who earns money by scaling and gutting fish on the beaches or those scaling and gutting fish on the beaches or those that help to load the boat before it goes to sea that help to load the boat before it goes to sea and offand off--load the catch and equipment when it load the catch and equipment when it comes back to port. In many cases this is their comes back to port. In many cases this is their only or major source of employment. only or major source of employment.

Fun

Boatrepairers

Customers

Boatbuilders Scalers

Gear Repairers

Business

Families

Vendors

K.H.Fisheries

Multiplier Benefits of FisheriesMultiplier Benefits of Fisheries

THE PROBLEMS/THREATS THE PROBLEMS/THREATS FACING THE FISHERIESFACING THE FISHERIES

• Pollution; industrial wastes, solid waste and raw sewage.

• Fish kills and continued reduction in fish catches and income of fishers. The and income of fishers. The estimated value of the Kingston Harbour estimated value of the Kingston Harbour fisheries in 1998 was J$336 million (1526 fisheries in 1998 was J$336 million (1526 MT) which fell to J$242 million (1100 MT) MT) which fell to J$242 million (1100 MT) in 2002. in 2002.

•• Plummeting fish catches exacerbated by Plummeting fish catches exacerbated by inadequately planned coastal and marine inadequately planned coastal and marine developments leading to degradation of developments leading to degradation of critical marine habitats. critical marine habitats.

THE PROBLEMS/THREATS THE PROBLEMS/THREATS FACING THE FISHERIESFACING THE FISHERIES

•• Competition for the finite beachfront lands Competition for the finite beachfront lands and finite marine space, which has and finite marine space, which has resulted in serious conflicts with other resulted in serious conflicts with other users of the harbour and its environs. users of the harbour and its environs.

•• Despite the myriad of environmental and Despite the myriad of environmental and other problems within the harbour fishing other problems within the harbour fishing is still an important activity, its is still an important activity, its preservation is therefore paramount.preservation is therefore paramount.

Some Factors Contributing to Some Factors Contributing to the Problem.the Problem.

•• No policy framework for fisheriesNo policy framework for fisheries•• Inadequate institutional support for fishersInadequate institutional support for fishers•• Lack of recognition of fishers rights by Lack of recognition of fishers rights by

‘‘developersdevelopers’’•• SocioSocio--economic importance of Fishing Industry economic importance of Fishing Industry

understated /poorly understood.understated /poorly understood.•• Lack of effective organization among fishers.Lack of effective organization among fishers.•• Lack of fishing beach tenure.Lack of fishing beach tenure.

Some Factors Contributing to Some Factors Contributing to the Problem.the Problem.

•• Little or no amenities on fishing beaches Little or no amenities on fishing beaches such as light, domestic water, sanitary such as light, domestic water, sanitary conveniences, security, adequate port conveniences, security, adequate port facilities etc.facilities etc.

•• Coastal developments, planned or Coastal developments, planned or unplanned, which forces fishers off unplanned, which forces fishers off traditional fishing beaches.traditional fishing beaches.

•• Lack of adequate data to effectively Lack of adequate data to effectively manage fisheries within the harbour.manage fisheries within the harbour.

Current Issues / InitiativesCurrent Issues / Initiatives

•• Efforts to formulate Policy Framework and Efforts to formulate Policy Framework and Strategic Plan for sustainable fisheries in Strategic Plan for sustainable fisheries in Jamaica (FAO/GOJ Jamaica (FAO/GOJ –– 2003/2004).2003/2004).

•• The Greenwich Farm Fishing Beach (GFFB) is The Greenwich Farm Fishing Beach (GFFB) is in dangerously close proximity to Petrojam in dangerously close proximity to Petrojam oil refinery.oil refinery.

•• Environmental Solutions Environmental Solutions –– study on study on relocating GFFB for the PCJ.relocating GFFB for the PCJ.

Current Issues / InitiativesCurrent Issues / Initiatives

•• Another current issue revolves around the Another current issue revolves around the relocation of the Hunts Bay/Causeway relocation of the Hunts Bay/Causeway Fishers to facilitate Highway 2000.Fishers to facilitate Highway 2000.

•• The Fisheries Division is recommending an The Fisheries Division is recommending an area of land within the Port Henderson area area of land within the Port Henderson area now owned by the Urban Development now owned by the Urban Development Corporation. Corporation.

•• This area could possibly accommodate a This area could possibly accommodate a Fisheries Complex.Fisheries Complex.

Area

ConclusionConclusion

•• The protection, preservation and The protection, preservation and sustainable development of the Kingston sustainable development of the Kingston Harbour fisheries is a nonHarbour fisheries is a non--negotiable and negotiable and essential goal for the sustainable essential goal for the sustainable management and development of the management and development of the Kingston Harbour. What are some of the Kingston Harbour. What are some of the critical ingredients to achieve this critical ingredients to achieve this essential goal? essential goal?

ConclusionConclusion

The empowerment of the Kingston Harbour The empowerment of the Kingston Harbour fishers is paramount to recognition and fishers is paramount to recognition and development development Any policy related to fishing must protect the Any policy related to fishing must protect the rights of stakeholders.rights of stakeholders.Environmental degradation must be curtailed to Environmental degradation must be curtailed to promote recovery of the fisheries and hence promote recovery of the fisheries and hence earning potential of stakeholders.earning potential of stakeholders.Integrated coastal zone management is essential Integrated coastal zone management is essential to restoring the environmental integrity of the to restoring the environmental integrity of the harbour and is paramount in harmonizing harbour and is paramount in harmonizing

ConclusionConclusion

ector policies must be harmonious to reduce ector policies must be harmonious to reduce onflicts among users.onflicts among users.oastal and marine developments must be well oastal and marine developments must be well lanned and take into account impact on lanned and take into account impact on takeholders.takeholders.evelopmental policies must address relocation evelopmental policies must address relocation sues pertaining to dislocated fishers.sues pertaining to dislocated fishers.ustainable fishing practices critical to the survival ustainable fishing practices critical to the survival f harbour fisheries.f harbour fisheries.and policies must incorporate issues for fishers and policies must incorporate issues for fishers such as tenure).such as tenure).