Some Perspectives on the Role of Aquaculture

 in the Development of Small Farm Systems

 for the Eastern Caribbean

 J. A. Hargreaves
 C.V.I. Agricultural Experiment Station
 P.O. Box 920 Kingshill, St. Croix, U.S.V.I.


 Competition for land and scarce capital resources within
island economies requires that fish culture operations oriented
toward small farmers be labor intensive. The use of simple
culture systems or agricultural by-products and manures as
feedstuffs, and integration with other farming activities is
most appropriate for part-time farmers or those with small
land holdings. The livelihoods of artisinal fishermen, the sea-
going analogues of small farmers, are threatened by declining
productivity of the shallow water reeffish fishery combined
with escalations in fuel and other operating costs. Enforceable
reef management strategies, the introduction of new working


watercraft, simple technologies reducing post-harvest losses,
and coastal aquaculture projects can revitalize the local
fisheries. A farmer-oriented approach to aquaculture research
and development in the region as well as a continuous and
comprehensive review of the biotechnical, socio-economic,
and political factors important in the transfer of aquaculture
technology is necessary for effective project implementation.
In addition, island governments must actively display the
political will which gives priority to small farmer development.
Keywords: Caribbean fishery; tilapia; integrated systems;
aquaculture extension.


 The objectives of this paper are three-fold. First, the context
 for aquaculture development is discussed through a characteriza-
 tion of the regional capture fishery. Second, the case of a success-
 ful freshwater aquaculture development project in Jamaica is con-
 sidered in terms of its applicability to the small island nations of
 the Eastern Caribbean. Finally, the literature relating to the im-
 plementation and transfer of aquaculture technology is reviewed.
 For the purpose of this paper, discussion will be limited to the
 so-called Lesser Antilles Biogeographic Province. Wood (1984)
 characterizes the region by:
 1. Relatively low biological diversity as compared to other
 tropical areas,
 2. Very high biogeographic, cultural, historical, political,
 educational, and economic diversity,
 3. Wide dispersion of ecological zones, and
 4. High population density supported by scarce resources.


 The Nature of the Caribbean Marine Fishery
 Since the geography of the area is dominated by the sea, the
 potential for aquaculture development must be assessed in the
 context of marine resource utilization. The small, coralline plat-
 forms surrounding islands of high population density are usually
 overfished, even with simple technology. Bell (1978) relates the
 phenomenon of overfishing to the perception of marine resources
 as "common property" coupled with the rising demand for pro-
 tein or food in general. He suggests further that, in some com-
 munities, overfishing may be more preferable to unemployment.
 In the Lesser Antilles, the reeffish resource satisfies social customs
 and lifestyles, provides employment, income, recreation, and
 protein (CFMC, 1984).
 In 1968, the Lesser Antilles produced 33,200 metric tons of fish
 (Juhl, 1970). This is thought to be near the maximum sustainable
 yield of fish for the region. The entire Caribbean produces only
 0.2% of the global fishery production (Idyll, 1971). There are no
 major fish producing nations in the region. Fish imports (mostly
 salted cod and tinned sardines) into the many island-states are
 limited by the availability of foreign exchange (Table 1).

VOL. XX-PROCEEDINGS of the CARIBBEAN FOOD CROPS SOCIETY


 TABLE 1. Fisheries production and fisheries imports for selected
 eastern Caribbean islands.

 Island Est. Annual Production (MT) Imports (MT)

 Antigua 900 593
 Barbados 4000 1330
 Br. Virgin Islands 150 NA
 Dominica 800 756
 Grenada 1200 700
 Guadeloupe 7700 2182
 Martinique 3300 4626
 Montserrat 70 NA
 St. Kitts/Nevis 900 300
 St. Lucia 1500 471
 St. Vincent 1200 402
 Aruba/Bonaire/Curacao 850 NA


 Sources: Kirwan and Espent (1978), FAO (1977), Putnev (1982)


 Fish productivity per shelf area is estimated to be 33 kg/ha/yr
(June, 1973). Two factors can explain this low productivity: low
primary productivity and bathymetry. The Caribbean Sea is quite
barren relative to other areas of the world's oceans. Net fixation of
carbon ranges from 20-100 g C/m2/yr in the region's waters
(Idyll, 1971). Thermal stratification of Caribbean waters and
limited nutrient outfall from the land also discourages the
development of blooms of phyto- or zoo-plankton.
 The Caribbean Sea lacks extensive areas of shallow water which
allows nutrients to accumulate, thereby stimulating primary pro-
ductivity. Half of the water area is over 2,000 fathoms in depth
and four-fifths of it is over 1,000 fathoms (Idyll, 1971). Deep
water is also an effective barrier to the dispersal of post-larval reef-
fish. This implies that each island has its own discrete stock of
fish.


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