NATIONAL FISHERIES AUTHORITY OPENS COMMERCIAL SEA CUCUMBER FISHERY APPLICATIONS

Applications for the limited entry commercial sea cucumber fishery on the Pedro Bank were opened on Monday, September 20, 2021. The fishing season will run from September to March the following year for three consecutive years. This will provide economic opportunities for our fishers while protecting the sea cucumber spawning period. Fishing on the island shelf of Jamaica remains prohibited.

On the recommendation of the NFA, the Ministry recently approved a Sea Cucumber Fishery Licensing Policy Framework. The Framework establishes fishing seasons, total allowable catches (TAC) and the allocation of individual fishing quotas.

The TAC will be divided into quota shares, a part of which will be equally divided among those fishers that participated in the exploratory research programme for sea cucumbers on the Pedro Bank. The balance on the TAC will then be available for competitive bids. For the Pedro Bank fishery, a total allowable catch of 90 metric tonnes over the same period will be established, that is, an average of 30 metric tonnes per year between the period.

There is a large demand for sea cucumber products, particularly in the East Asian market where prices have increased exponentially over the last decade. The NFA is therefore focusing on the diversification and sustainable use of our fishable resources so that we can maximize our export potential and ensure sustainability.

It is anticipated that Jamaica can sustainably produce more than 30 tonnes of wet weight per year for this fishery with significant US dollar export earning potential.