Fishing Activity
Type of production system: Commercial Fishery Area
Bottom type: Soft bottom gravel-sandy. Depth zone: Coastal - Shallow waters, inshore (0 m - 50 m). Vertical distribution: Demersal.
Coastal waters and offshore Pedro and Morant banks.
Geo References 
| Exclusive Economic Zone Areas (EEZ) | JAM - Jamaica |
More Geo References
The following area codes have been found as intersecting the location of
Jamaica Queen conch fisheryFishing Gear
Gear neiScuba and hookah
Vessel Type
Other fishing vesselsDecked vessels, 25 m length, inboard engine 500 hp, acting as mothership of fiberglass boats of 7 m (some of them leased from Dominican Republic).
Flag State
Jamaica
Seasonality
February to July
Environmental limitationsHurricanes, bad weather or sea conditions may affect harvest levels.
List of fishery Indicators
Fishery Indicators
| Type | Measure | Value | Unit | Time period |
|---|
| Nominal Effort | Number of vessels | 66 (11 mother vessel - 53 artisanal (canoe) vessel - 2 carrier) | vessels | 2014 |
| Employment | Number of fishermen | 99 employed on the mother vessels (JAM - HND - DOM) | Persons | 2014 |
| Number of fishermen | 223 employed on the artisanal vessels (JAM - HND - DOM) | Persons | 2014 |
| Number of fishermen | 6 employed on the carriers (JAM) | Persons | 2014 |
| Production | Landed Volume | 400-500 | tonnes | 2012 |
| Export value | 17.9 million/year | USD | 2015 |
Management
Management unit: Yes
Jurisdictional framework
Management Body/Authority(ies): National Fisheries Advisory Committee
Mandate: Management.
Area under national jurisdiction: Jamaica
Maritime Area: Exclusive Economic Zone Areas (EEZ).
Management Body/Authority(ies): Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
Mandate: Management.
Area under national jurisdiction: Jamaica
Maritime Area: Exclusive Economic Zone Areas (EEZ).
Management Regime
The Fishing Industry Act (1975) and Regulations (1976) and the Morant and Pedro Cays Act (1907) are the various legislation which govern fisheries within the territorial sea and archipelagic waters of Jamaica. Specific to the queen conch fishery is the fishing industry (Conservation of conch (genus Strombus)) regulations, 2000. Conch is listed as an ‘at risk’ species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), as such; a careful system of export quotas is required to comply with the provisions of that Convention.
Management Methods
Fisheries Regulations with focus on fish size limit, effort control - Binding
More information on fisheries legislation at: FAOLEX legislative database Status and Trends
The use of the resource was very low up to 1989 (50 tons). Since 1990 ocurred a rapid development of a profitable export industry reaching 2050 tons in 1994. Present status: several stock depleted, decline in the abundance of medium and large conch due to high level of fishing effort.
Bibliography
Murray, A.O. 2015. Report of the improved data collection and monitoring of the 2015 industrial conch fishing season. Unpublished report of the Fisheries Division of Jamaica, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Murray, A.O., Smikle, S. 2014. Assessment of the 2014 catch and effort data for the Pedro Bank queen conch fishery and NTAC recommendation.
Morris, R. 2013. Pedro Bank queen conch fishery assessment and TAC recommendation. Unpublished report of the Fisheries Division of Jamaica, Ministry of Agriculture.
Murray, A.O., Smikle, S., Cooke-Panton, K., Squire, J. and Hansel, F. 2012. Assessment of the 2012 catch and effort data for the Pedro Bank queen conch fishery. Unpublished report of the Fisheries Division of Jamaica, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
2011 Jamaica Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) Abundance Survey. Unpublished report of the Fisheries Division of Jamaica, Ministry of Agriculture.
Murray, A.O. 2011. Assessment of the 2010 catch and effort data for the Pedro Bank queen conch fishery. Unpublished report of the Fisheries Division of Jamaica, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Smikle, S.G. 2010. Pedro Bank queen conch fishery, assessment and TAC recommendation. Unpublished report of the Fisheries Division of Jamaica, Ministry of Agriculture.
Aiken, K., Kong, G.A., Smikle, S.G., Appeldoorn, R. and Warner, G. 2006. Managing Jamaica’s queen conch resources. Ocean and Coastal Management 49 (5-6):332-341.
Tewfik, A. 2002. Regional overview of queen conch Strombus gigas resources in CARICOM/CARIFORUM countries. CINVESTAV-IPN, Merida Mexico.
Smikle, S.G. and Appeldoorn, R.S. 2002. Estimates of abundance and potential yield for the Pedro Bank queen conch population. Unpublished report of the Fisheries Division of Jamaica, Ministry of Agriculture.
Taller Regional de Langosta de WECAFC, Jamaica National Report. FAO Fisheries Rep. 619. 2001.
Aiken, K., Kong, G.A., Smikle, S.G., Mahon, R. and Appeldoorn, R. 1999. The queen conch fishery on Pedro Bank, Jamaica: discovery, development, management. Ocean and Coastal Management 42 (12):1069 - 1081.
Tewfik, A. and Appeldoorn, R.S. 1997 Queen conch (Strombus gigas) abundance survey and potential yield estimates for Pedro Bank, Jamaica. Fisheries Division, Jamaica: 18 pp. 1998.
http://www.crfm.int/~uwohxjxf/images/documents/Pedro_1997_Conch_Survey_Report.pdfKong, G.A. 1997. The Jamaica queen conch management plan: a review and critical analysis, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Appeldoorn, R.S. Stock abundance and potential yield of queen conch on Pedro Bank. Fisheries Division Ministry of Agriculture Kingston, Jamaica May 31, 1995.
Appeldoorn, R.S. and Meyers, S. 1993. Marine fishery resources of the Antilles FAO Fish. Tech. Pap. 326, Proc Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute, 41.
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