Knox Community College

Department of Agriculture and Environmental Studies

Spalding Campus, Clarendon

Jamaica

Overfishing

An Investigation into the Impacts of Overfishing and the

Effectiveness of an Environmental Remediation Program in the Portland

Bight Protected Area and the Hellshire Beach Community

By

Stefano Chin

Supervisor: Dr. Miller

Duration: February 2015

Research paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the course

Research Methodology leading to a Bachelor of Science Degree in

Environmental Studies

i

Abstract

This research was conducted in order to gain important insight into the lives of

fishermen, vendors and families of Hellshire Beach; understanding their attitudes and views.

Overfishing is a major problem in many parts of the world today and has an even more profound

effect on small, developing countries that has many vulnerable communities and people who

depend on the Fisheries or Fishing Industry to earn a living and for survival. This industry which

has become more and more unsustainable over the years and has drawn the attention of several

Governmental and Non-governmental Organizations (NGO) to intervene to achieve Sustainable

Development. This requires in depth exploration into such an issue to prove that an

Environmental remediation Program combined with effective law enforcement will stem the

issue of Overfishing in Hellshire and lead to economic development among fisher folks, vendors

and families within the area. Knowledge gained during this research has shown that there is no,

notable or previously published research papers or studies carried out in Hellshire, hence the

purpose of this research. With the Government’s focus on reducing Crime and Violence and

required participation in the Structural Adjustment Programs (SAP) to ensure the ability of a

country to pay back loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), small, vulnerable

fishermen who many times are not qualified or eligible for jobs in the Public Sector, can be

overlooked and seem insignificant. Therefore, to achieve Sustainable Development, Which is a

part of the Government’s goal, they must strive to attend to the concerns of the fishers, vendors

and families; as this is integral in striking the balance of the social aspects with the economic and

environmental; without the well being and development of people, there can be no sustainability.

The work of experts in the field of Conservation, research and Environmental Science

overall were reviewed; Experts who wrote on several related topics such as Marine Pollution

ii

(MARPOL), Climate Change, Coral Reefs and diseases, corruption and the Fish Sanctuaries, etc.

and representatives from relevant Organizations were interviewed as well. A study was also

carried out at the Hellshire site and information was gathered and put together for this research.

Overfishing also known as Overexploitation is vividly described and understood to be a social

issue because it is the stress of excess fishing in a particular area by humans that cause marine

depletion, which leads to several other environmental changes and responses which ultimately

comes back to adversely affect the way of life for us as humans, whether we are fishermen,

vendors, distributors or consumers. Lack of Environmental Education and awareness of this fact

is evident in data collection and analysis; it is their mindset.

This research is very important because it sets the stage for review and greater emphasis

on the need to give consideration and attention to the issue of Overfishing in Hellshire, and

vulnerable communities on Jamaica’s South Coast. It forms the background for future studies to

be carried out in Hellshire Beach, which will then lead to plans for social development and

improvement of infrastructure and further Environmental Management and Project

Implementation. The research findings prove that Sustainability can be achieved and an

Environmental Remediation Program is feasible, effective, and the way forward.

iii

Acknowledgment

The completion of this research would not go without extending gratitude to various

persons who played an integral role in data collection and guidance as to the relevant criteria and

structure for this research. These persons are Mr. Watson, representative from the Climate

Change Action Training (C-CAT), Mr. Dixon, Executive member of the Half Moon Bay

Fishermen’s Cooperative; he particularly pointing out some sources on the beach for data

collection, Ms. Sharlene Rowe, Event Planner/Coordinator for the Caribbean Coastal Area

Management Foundation (C-CAMF) and Dr. Karl Aiken, Lecturer at the University of the West

Indies (UWI) and Lobster Expert of Jamaica; he particularly assisted in the overall guidance as

to the requirements of this research. For transportation, I would like to thank Mr. Dawkins,

former Extension Officer at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), as this was

very necessary for travelling to Hellshire Beach to conduct the field study and gather the relevant

data necessary for the research. I also found it necessary to express gratitude to the various

authors and publishers for the electronic resources used in collecting information such as books,

previous studies and research papers, etc.

Table of Contents

Content Page

Abstract…………………………….……………………………………………….…….…..i

Acknowledgement…………………………………………………………………..………..iii

List of Tables………………………………………………………………………………...vii

List of Figures……………………………………………………………………………...viii

Chapter 1: Introduction and Objectives………………………………………………….…....1

Introduction……………………………………………………………………….......1

Objectives…………………………………………………………………………......4

Hypothesis…………………………………………………………………………….4

Chapter 2: Literature Review………………………………………………………………....5

Chapter 3: Methodology………………………………………………………………………9

Site-visit and Questionnaires…………………………………………………………..9

Interviews…………………………………………………………………….……….10

Analysis of Data……………………………………………………………………....10

Research Limitations………………………………………………………………….11

Chapter 4: Data Collection and Analysis……………………………………….……………..12

Data Collection.……………………………………………………………………….12

Brief history and Background of Jamaica fisheries…….……………….….…………13

Fishers, Fishing Methods and Equipment and Vendors.……………….……………..16

Fishers………………………………………………….……….……………..16

Fishing Methods and Equipment……………………………….……………..16

Vendors/Commercial Vending…………………………………..……………18

The Issue of Overfishing…….………………………………………….……………..20

Indicators and Impacts of Overfishing………………………….……………..20

Pollution and Overfishing in Hellshire………………………….……………..23

Climate Change and Overfishing in Hellshire Beach…………….……………25

Coral Bleaching and Overfishing………………………………….…………...27

Coral Diseases……………………………………………….…………28

Coral Diseases in relation to Overfishing………………….….………..28

Environmental Organizations………………………………………………….……….30

Role of the Urban Development Commission (UDC)……………...….………30

Role of the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET)………….……....……………...31

Role of the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA)….…………31

Data Analysis……………………………………………………………………….…..32

On-site Assessment and Fisher Data………………………………………...…………36

Overfishing…………………………………………………………...………...36

Pollution from the Kingston Harbor……………………………………………37

Climate Change and Overfishing in Hellshire…………………………….……37

Corruption………………………………………………………………….…...37

Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendations…………………………………………….…...38

Discussion………………………………………………………………………….…...38

Overfishing and Lack of Education……………………………………….……39

Pollution……………………………………………………………………..….40

Poverty and Vulnerability……………………………………………………....40

The Role of Environmental Organizations………………………………….….41

Field Study at Hellshire Beach vs. Field Study at Salt River……………….….41

Recommendations……………………………………………………………………...43

Overfishing……………………………………………………………………..43

Climate Change……………..……………………………………………….....44

Pollution………………………………………………………………………..45

Conclusion…………………………………………………………………...…………46

References…………………………………………………………………………..….48

Appendices……………………………………………………………………………..52

Appendix A…………………………………………………………………….54

Appendix B……………………………..……………………………..……….55

vii

List of Tables

Tables Pages

Table 1………………………………………………………………………………..……..…12

Showing a Geographical Summary of Hellshire Beach

Table 2..………………………………………………………………………………….….....34

Showing Field Study carried out in Salt River fishing community in 2013

Table 3…………………………………………………………………………………………35

Showing Field Study carried out in Hellshire Beach

viii

List of Figures

Figures Pages

Figure 1………………………………………………………………………………………..14

Showing the Main Fishing Grounds around Jamaica

Figure 2………………………………………………………………………………………..15

Distribution of coral reef in Jamaica (source: The Nature Conservancy)

Figure 3………………………………………………………………………………………..19

Showing the Levels of Activities that take place at Hellshire Beach

Figure 4………………………………………………………………………………………..32

Showing Data collected in Field Study at Hellshire Beach

1

Chapter 1: Introduction and Objectives

Introduction

Overfishing is a worldwide problem in many countries and has caused a decline in the

fish population in the waters. Jamaica is one of those countries in which you can see some of the

effects of overfishing on the fisher folks, vendors and families in the South Coast and in specific

to this research, the fishing community of Hellshire, which has an established Fish Sanctuary that

forms a part of the Portland Bight Protected Area (PBPA); the largest Marine Protected Area

(MPA) in Jamaica. Hellshire Beach is governed by the Half Moon Bay Fishermen’s Association,

which consists of 113 members, some of which are fishermen. Fish is a major part of the

Jamaican culture and diet, especially for communities such as those in Hellshire and others on

the coast. If overfishing continues at the present rate, it will create a spin off effect on the amount

of fishes caught, on vendors and families in general, as well as demand and supply on the

market. The future generation will not have access and see the different fish species. As a result

of economic problems, there is hardly any other alternative for fisher folks and they are also

reluctant to leave their traditional lifestyles and try other skills; it is their culture. Therefore,

implementing a change, especially through Environmental Education in a very poor economy

such as this with limited opportunities, is going to be a challenging thing to accomplish.

On the other hand, continuous illegal fishing techniques used is another issue, but just as

much affect the fish stocks; as fish species in the Sanctuaries will not have rest periods for

reproduction and restoration. The Caribbean Coastal Area Management (C-CAM) Foundation in

2003 was given management role of three fish sanctuaries in the Portland Bight Protected Area

(PBPA); namely Three Bays, Galleon and Salt Harbor. However, the reality is that fishers are

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very a very vulnerable set of people and face real hardships in providing for their families on a

daily basis and every catch counts, therefore, when one fisher engages in overfishing, others will

also engage to attain immediate benefit. Sanctuaries were established to benefit the fishers in that

they should fish in the open waters alone that they may catch the adult fishes leaving the

Sanctuaries (fishes only utilize the Sanctuary as a safe haven for spawning and nourishment of

juveniles until they reach adulthood, they migrate into open waters); as they have more value on

the market. However, many fishers are somewhat ignorant and oblivious to this fact and due to

overfishing, adult fishes in the open waters decline and fishers now turn to the Sanctuaries. This

is an issue that C-CAM and other governing bodies such as the National Environment and

Planning Agency (NEPA) try to prevent.

Separate and apart from Overfishing and illegal fishing techniques, there are other human

induced or Anthropogenic activities that are major factor in the depletion of fish stock and

marine life overall; Climate Change and Pollution. These two factors are clearly covered in great

details in this research because of the major contribution they play along with Overfishing and

illegal fishing techniques. From the start of the Industrial Revolution until present, Climate

change also known as Global Warming has created major environmental impacts and the effects

can be seen in fish behavior, the health and quality of coral reefs and various fish species.

Pollution especially from the Kingston Harbor and nearby surrounding communities, has become

more and more of a significant concern over time; as fish population has also decreased because

of it and humans who form the top consumers in the food chain have become potential victims of

various diseases and illnesses that stem from consuming fish that have high concentrations of

different types of pollutants. These two factors create more problems and combined with

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Overfishing and illegal fishing techniques, effective and proper management and conservation

efforts become more complicated.

There needs to be a change, a plan that works to achieve sustainable development;

improving the standard of living for venders, families and fisher folks and at the same time,

prevent depletion of the waters by allowing juvenile fishes to grow and repopulate the waters so

the future generation can meet their needs. Therefore, this research will seek to capture the views

and attitudes of the fishers on Hellshire Beach in order to find out the extent of the impact

overfishing has on their lives and to observe the beneficial changes that can occur through

ongoing Environmental Education combined with strict law enforcement, as it is with great hope

that fisher folks will practice more sustainable fishing and overfishing will be reduced or cease if

possible.

4

Objectives

The objectives for this research are as follows:

To define Overfishing

To collect data from fishers on the Hellshire Beach community about the impacts of

overfishing as well as to understand the views, attitudes and values

To collect data from the relevant Environmental Organizations about the impacts of

overfishing on the Hellshire fishers and the background of Hellshire

To determine if overfishing is an issue in Hellshire Beach community, and if so, what are

the impacts and intensity

To prove or disprove that Environmental Education will fix the problem

To understand the views and attitudes of the Hellshire fishers as it pertains to overfishing

To compare data collected about the impacts of overfishing gathered by other researchers

and relevant organizations

Hypothesis

“On-going Environmental Education combined with effective law enforcement will stem the

issue of Overfishing in the Hellshire Beach community”

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Chapter 2: Literature Review

A striking similarity between the literature put forth by Hailey, Wilson, and Horrocks,

(2011) and this study is that the most important conservation objective is the protection of the

remaining coastal habitats; as overfishing is accompanied by illegal fishing techniques which

stress and destroy coastal habitats and aquatic life such as coral reefs, sea grass beds, etc.

Another literature entitled the Climate Change Action Plan: Portland Bight Protected

Area, was written by the Climate Studies Group at Mona (Jamaica), the University of the West

Indies (UWI) for the Caribbean Coastal Area Management (C-CAM) Foundation. It points out

seven things to note, and number five of those seven points on p.9, states that, according to the

Social Development Commission (SDC), in the Hellshire community, a third of the household

heads have attained tertiary education while three quarters of the household heads are engaged in

professional occupations. Yet, overfishing still has a long term impact upon many fishers,

vendors and families of the future generation in which this research will highlight. The PBPA

provides natural resources to support the livelihood of the community, but the problem is

sustainable use of these resources and that is where this research comes in to emphasize on the

issue of overfishing.

Peter Espeut, Environmentalist and Sociologist wrote an article or paper entitled

“MANAGING THE FISHERIES OF JAMAICA: IS CO-MANAGEMENT A VIABLE OPTION?”

And in his paper, he defined fish as a part of the staple diet of Jamaicans. He estimated in 1990,

25,564.6 metric tonne of fish consumed of which 15,000.8 metric tonne worth J$227,517,480

was imported. Of the 10,500 metric tonne sourced locally, 7200 metric tonne came from fishery

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capture and 3300 was metric tonne was cultivated in freshwater ponds. Therefore, having the

local fishery capture higher than fish cultivated in freshwater ponds, means that fishermen are

fishing from the local waters much more than they use those fishes of freshwater; this shows that

there’s a preference in sea water fish over freshwater fish and this gives rise to overfishing in the

south coast waters. Domestic fish catch was stated to have been between 8500 and 7000 metric

tonne over the last fifteen years, and during the same period, it was stated that fishers and boat

license increased by an average of 3%, as well as there are many unlicensed fishers. “The fact

that there has been no increase in catch despite the increase in fishing effort is strong indication

that the fishery is currently overexploited. Other indications are a reduction in the mean size of

the fish caught, and a change in species composition towards more trash fish.” (Espeut). Espeut

made a comparative statement on p.8 under “The Management Problem” that points back to the

hypothesis of this research; in summary, when fishery effort is low, the corresponding fish

capture will also be low and there will be a buildup of uncaught fish and biodiversity

reproducing and leading to overpopulation of the water, however, on the other hand, when there

is an increase in fishing effort, the catch will increase to a maximum level that can be maintained

and fish are able to regenerate to keep the population in check, just as long as fishery effort does

not exceed that carrying capacity; if so, then the fish population’s ability to regenerate will

decrease as well as their stock and fishery catch. The relative size of the fish in this scenario as

opposed to when there is low fishery effort is smaller and biodiversity and valuable fish species

population will also be reduced or declined.

7

Carl Dundas and Carlyle Mitchell for the CARICOM Secretariat prepared a research

paper in July 2004 called “A COMMON FISHERIES REGIME FOR THE CARIBBEAN SEA”

which states that a management regime for sustainable development will have to ensure that the

ocean environment is protected from land-based sources of pollution; and the fishing industry is

managed so that it operates on a sustainable basis. It also states the goals of sustainable fisheries

development, which is to protect the resource capability to sustain itself biologically and to

provide good socio-economic returns to those engaged in harvesting the resource. As was stated

in the hypothesis of this research in the above purpose of the study, the need for ongoing law

enforcement is necessary for the protection of the natural resources, sustainable use of resources

as well as provision of good returns to fishers, vendors and families.

Climate Change or Global Warming is also a contributing factor to the reduction of fish

stock in the Jamaican Fisheries. The Ocean and Climate Change: Tools and Guidelines for

Action report by Dorothée Herr and Grantly R. Galland, published by the International Union for

Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Natural Resources in 2009 provides some important insights

on the relationship between Climate Change and the ocean that are used to identify some of the

expected effects and changes that are likely to occur in the Jamaican Fisheries which complicates

the issue of Overfishing, which also complicates of Environmental Management from a fisheries

or marine perspective. The ocean plays an integral part in influencing our climate and is

intrinsically linked to the atmosphere through:

Heat storage

Transportation of heat around the globe

Evaporation

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Freezing and thawing in polar regions

Gas storage and exchange (including CO2)

The final literature reviewed is “The Marine Fisheries of Jamaica” by Aiken and Kong,

(2000). “A major integrated multidisciplinary study for the sustainable development of the south

coast fisheries conducted in 1998 (Halcrow, 1998) aims to identify ways to ensure rehabilitation

and sustainability of resources.” (Aiken and Kong, 2000). This idea of sustainable development

in the south coast that Aiken and Kong wrote about in their literature is emphasized and

highlighted in this research paper as an option or solution to the issue of overfishing in the

PBPA; as this will bring with it future opportunities for alternative livelihood for fisher folks

which will help to reduce the fishing effort or stress on the waters and the use of illegal and

dangerous fishing practices and in that way also, the established Fish Sanctuaries could work

effectively to enhance biodiversity restoration.

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Chapter 3: Methodology

The methods used in data collection were chosen because of their effectiveness and also

because of the nature of this research; this was mostly a qualitative research, hence,

Questionnaires were chosen because they are an effective way of quickly gathering data from a

large population sample of fishermen and vendors. It also allowed for a specific structuring of

questions; there were open-ended and closed-ended questions. Site-visit is very much necessary

because it allows observation and collection of primary/first hand information or data and also

have a personal experience of the environment and the subject of research and lastly, Interviews

allow for specific questions to be asked of important representatives of different Environmental

Organizations in charge of the area, given the mandate of conservation or experts.

Site-visit and Questionnaires

A site visit to Hellshire beach took place on January 7, 2015 and a field study was carried

out within one hour; Observations were made, sections of the Beach and community was

explored, questionnaires were used to gather information from fishers and venders about

Overfishing, Marine Pollution, fish decline and overall their views and attitudes. A total of

fifteen questionnaires were prepared for use of collecting of specific data from fishermen and

vendors in the field study. The questionnaire were then collated and analyzed and their results

compared to a similar study carried out with the fishermen of the Salt River community. After

analyzing the data from the questionnaire, conclusions were then drawn.

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Interviews

A series of interviews were carried out in the data collection process; a telephone

interview was conducted with Lobster Expert, Dr. Karl Aiken from the University of the West

Indies in Kingston, Jamaica on Wednesday January 28, 2015 about his recent work or projects

with the Fisheries Division in the conservation of Marine Protected Area (MPA), the benefits of

Fish Sanctuaries in Jamaica, Environmental Education and law enforcement as well as

alternative lifestyles for fishermen. Another telephone interview was conducted with Mr. Dixon,

Executive member of the Half Moon Bay Fishermen’s Corporative on February 4, 2015 on

several topics; the number of fishers and vendors in Hellshire Beach, the number of stalls, shops

and or restaurants in Hellshire and overall services and commercial activities that take place at

Hellshire Beach. The final interview was conducted face to face with Mr. Adrian Watson, a

representative from the Climate Change Action Training (C-CAT) on February 6, 2015 on the

subjects of recent work or projects carried out in Hellshire or the South Coast, the effects of

Climate Change in Jamaica, how Climate Change complicates Overfishing and what adaptive

measures fishers can take towards the effects of Climate Change.

Analysis of Data

Data was analyzed using tables, Pie Charts and Diagrams, which vividly describe

relationships and make comparisons between study carried out at Hellshire Beach and Salt River

fishing Community; the fishermen’s views, attitudes and responses to similar questions. The

analysis will highlight issues of Environmental Education on Overfishing, Marine Pollution and

fishing overall.

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Research Limitations

The following were limitations in collecting data for this research:

Out of the 15 questionnaires prepared, only six fishers took part in the study and two

vendors because not much fishermen were on the Beach; so a small population sample

was used-This research therefore, does not present a complete and overall reflection of

most fishers on the Beach

Very few activities were taking place on the Beach

Transportation and cost factors; site was only visited once- Several site-visits would have

been better because more fishermen might have turned up on another day at different

times

Most Fishermen (mostly older fishermen and one you fisherman) are uneducated and not

familiar with some environmental concepts- Their definitions and opinions might be

biased or incorrect

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Chapter 4: Data Collection and Analysis

Data Collection

Hellshire Beach, Jamaica, is located near Portmore, and famed for its fried fish and safe

swimming. It has near white sands with a very small trace of black sand. “Hellshire Beach is the

largest and most popular of a series of narrow beaches located along the southern coast of

Jamaica.” (Jamaicans.com, 1995 - 2015). Once called "Healthshire" due to its reputation as a

health retreat, its name has since evolved into "Hellshire"

Table 1. Showing a Geographical Summary of Hellshire Beach

http://www.geographic.org/geographic_names/name.php?uni=-

4990005&fid=3276&c=jamaica

Description

Fishing Location Name: Hellshire Bay

Fishing Feature Classification: Water Locations (Lake,

River, Reservoir, Sea)

Fishing Feature Type: Bay

Fishing Region: Americas/Western

Europe

Fishing Country: Jamaica

Fishing Area: Saint Catherine

Longitude: -76.9

Latitude: 17.9

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Brief history and Background of Jamaica fisheries

The CaribbeanExams, endorsed by the Ministry of Education published a paper on

Fishing in Jamaica and provided that the Fishing Industry of Jamaica falls under the supervision

of the Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and was established as a sub-division of

the Forestry Department in December 1949. The Jamaica Fisheries deals with the fish culture

and conservation work and fishing in specific falls into two categories, Marine and Inland.

Marine fishing has several major Fishing Grounds:

Inshore: North Shelf

The north shelf has a continuous reef system and is less than one mile from the

shore. “The area has 69 active fishing beaches of varying sizes.”

(www.caribbeanexams.com).This research has shown the reef resource on the north shelf

to be heavily overfished as many fishermen must supplement their incomes through

farming or other employment.

Offshore: The Proximal Banks of Jamaica; Pedro Cays and Morant

Cays

Many fishermen live on Pedro and Morant Cays for several months at a time.

They fish in the surrounding areas and sell their catches to CARRIER and PACKER

BOATS which transport the fish to Kingston and other ports. The Offshore areas are also

accessed by fishermen from the mainland where they stay and catch fish for a day or two.

There is danger in journeying far out to go fishing for these travelers, however, the profits

made many times outweighs that danger and they are willing to take that risk.

14

Inshore: South Shelf

Jamaica’s south coast is very productive and similar to the north shelf, it has

many fishing beaches of different sizes, but is however, largely overfished. In

comparison to the north coast, it has a wider area and a larger offshore bank. “The shelf

extends to a minimum of 7 miles or 24 kilometers.” (www.caribbeanexams.com).

Offshore: Pedro Bank, Formigas Bank and Others

These banks are in international waters but can still be legally fished by Jamaican

fishers and have been for many years. Fishermen catch a variety of oceanic fish from

these areas including Tuna, marlin and other bill fish, flying fish sharks and sword fish.

Naga, the ICLARM Quarterly, (Vol. 23, No. 1) January-March 2000

Figure 1. Showing the Main Fishing

Grounds around Jamaica

15

Figure 2. Distribution of coral reef in Jamaica (source: The Nature

Conservancy)

Coral Reefs of Jamaica Status and Trends 2007 by the Ecosystems Management Branch

of NEPA

http://www.nepa.gov.jm/student/resource-material/pdf/Coral_Reef_of_Jamaica_2007.pdf

16

Fishers, Fishing Methods and Equipment and Vendors

Fishers

“The Marine Fisheries of Jamaica are almost entirely artisanal, with at least 15000 fishers

and an annual catch of approximately 7000 tonnes.” (Aiken and Kong). Some of the major

aquatic resources include coral reef fishes, conch, lobster, small pelagics and seasonal large

pelagics. According to the Fisheries Division Licensing and Registration System, there are 267

Registered fishers in Hellshire and 54 boats. Data from the research paper, The Marine Fisheries

of Jamaica, provided that there are at least 1500 and 20,000 active fishers and at least 3500

registered fishing vessels operating from 168 landing sites. “Nearly 60% of all fishers operate on

the south coast.” (Aiken and Kong).

Fishing Methods and Equipment

The most typical and commonly used fishing vessel is the open canoe; which represents

95% (wooden dugouts) of all the vessels used 4m to >18m in size. Commercial vessels use larger

outboard engines. There are also decked and offshore vessels that range from 12 to 20m in size

with inboard diesel motors. Page two of the paper published by CaribbeanExams speaks about

the fishing equipment and methods used by Jamaican fishers; these equipment include fishing

nets, lines and pots when they go fishing.

Fish Pots-Fish pots are the most commonly used fishing equipment; they are called Antillean Z-

shaped traps and are made from mesh wire supported by a wooden frame. A special type of

wood (Lancewood and Rod wood) is used that will not harm the fish. The pots come in various

sizes and bait would be placed inside the pots to attract fish (smaller fish). The pots are then

attached to a rope and a buoy and then taken out to the sea and lowered into the shallow waters

17

around the reefs. The buoy is used to mark the position of the fish pot. The design of the pots is

of such that it allows the fish to enter but they cannot escape. Regulation 14 (under Section 25)

of the Fishing Industry Act of 1976 page 8, states that no person shall, for the purpose of any

fishing, make use of any beach seine unless:

The mesh size of the bunt be 3.17 centimeters (14 inches) or more wide upon the bunt

being fully stretched

The mesh size of the comers be 4.43 centimeters (12 inches) or more wide upon the

comers being fully stretched;

The mesh size of the wings is 5.08 centimeters (2 inches) or more wide upon the wings

being fully stretched.

Lining-This method involves a long line with hooks being towed along by a boat.

These are legal fishing methods and equipment used by fishers in catching fish, however,

fishermen many times employ illegal fishing methods and equipment to catch fish such as the

use of spear guns underwater to kill the fish and also the use of sticks of dynamite. Thousands of

fish are often killed as a result of the explosion of the dynamite especially. Hence, there exists a

huge problem with overfishing and fish population decline. It was also noted that best time to go

fishing is in the early morning or in the late evening. The fishing season extends from December

to July. June to November is seen as a high risk period. Hurricanes and storms occur during this

time. Types of fish caught by fishermen include:

Doctors

Parrot

Welchman

18

Turbit

Snapper

Goatfish

Shell fish such as lobster, conch and shrimp

The fishermen keep their boats and gears on or near the beach where they mend their nets and

build traps in preparation for going to sea.

Vendors/Commercial Vending

According to Mr. Dixon, Executive member of the Half Moon Bay Fishermen’s

Corporative, there are 70-75 shops in Hellshire Beach. Some of them are “Prendy,” “Flow,”

“Aunt Merl,” “Aunt May,” Ocean View, “Creachy,” “Lobster belly,” “blacka” and “Denise,”

“Texas,” “Bev and Sons,” “Shawty,” “Stabbaz Hut,” “Secret Fantasy,” “Jacky’s,” and the list

continues. Among these, other services provided on the beach are:

Fish vending (Fry fish or Raw fish)

Bar sales

Firewood sales

Horse ride rentals

Inner tube (float rentals)

Massages

Hair plaiting for women with longer hair

Shrimp sales

CD (copies) sales

oyster selling

19

Bamboo curio selling

Boat rides-Lime Cay, Rocky Point, etc.

Sea bike

Figure 3. Showing the Levels of Activities that take place at Hellshire

Beach

20

The Issue of Overfishing

Overfishing has several definitions; “when more fish are caught than the population can

replace through natural reproduction.” (World Wildlife Fund, 2014). All definitions basically

surround the point of excessive decline in fish population by fishers beyond their capacity to

regenerate to ensure the survival of future population. In comparison to the definition provided

by the World Wildlife Fund, (2014). Jamaica’s fisheries are considered to be overfished (with the

exception of the Queen Conch Fishery which is actually well managed) and this results in several

changes in marine biodiversity and declines in significant fish species. “Top carnivorous

predatory fishes such as higher-valued snapper, grouper and Jack have been greatly reduced and

have been replaced by lesser-valued herbivorous and omnivorous species like parrot fish,

surgeonfish and wrasse” (Aiken and Kong). However, According to Dr. Karl Aiken, few other

places such as Boscobel and Oracabessa in St. Mary have seen a 1500% increase in fish

population and bigger size fish species as a result of effective management of Fish Sanctuaries.

These places have also seen a 45% reduction in algal bloom, a 50% increase in live corals and a

550% increase in Parrot fish.

Indicators and Impacts of Overfishing

Peter Espeut wrote in the Jamaica Gleaner on November 15, 2006 about Overfishing in

Jamaica, speaking specifically to catch decline, he said “According to government statistics, at

independence in 1962 our national catch was 24.2 million lb of fish while in 1981 the catch had

fallen to 15.9 million lb (a total decline of 34.3 per cent, or 1.81 per cent per year).” He argued

that similar to our own stock of groupers which have already collapsed, population of snappers

will soon suffer the same fate. The previous year of that article, the Gleaner published an article

21

another article that reported that "Last year alone, the catch declined by more than 11 per cent,

according to figures from the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands," and this decline is from an

already low figure. Overfishing is also caused by the use of illegal and damaging fishing

equipment. E.g. Small mesh apertures in fish pots cause large quantities of juvenile fish to be

caught (i.e. before they get mature to breed) which reduces in quantity the next generation of

fish.

Jetson, (2014), wrote an article on Marine Science Today and she indicated several

impacts of overfishing. They are:

Reduced Harvests of Targeted Fish-The excess catching of high-valued target species that

eventually result in a decline in the population of that targeted species.

Harvest of Untargeted/Protected/Endangered Marine Species-Another term used to refer to

this occurrence is ‘bycatch’. As the term suggest, this is when many other variety of species are

caught among the target species and are not initially wanted by fishers. These may include

endangered or protected species such as certain marine mammals, or other aquatic species of

little or no commercial or recreational value. If caught, they are eventually discarded either at the

sea or shore; where they are discarded may be unfavorable to their survival and they eventually

die.

Ecosystem Changes-All marine biota or plant and animal life forms play an integral role in

keeping ecosystems balanced and adverse changes can occur when these life forms and

ecosystems are affected by overfishing. Overfishing is capable of damaging the environment and

marine ecology; causing a disruption in food chains. For example, herring is a vital prey species

for the cod. Therefore, when herring are overfished the cod population suffers as well.

22

Socio-economic Effect-Many people rely on fish as an important part of their diet and source of

protein. The Ocean has long been a source of seafood but this is also limited. Therefore, when

the waters become heavily overfished and the use of illegal fishing practices have increased, then

the ocean’s carrying capacity can be pushed to the limits and become susceptible to collapsing.

This will affect the everyday lives of people; venders, fishermen and fisheries are bound to go

out of business in no time and anyone also who depends on it for income.

23

Pollution and Overfishing in Hellshire Beach

Hellshire is among the many beaches that surrounds the Kingston Harbor; the others

include Hunts Bay, Port Royal, Harbor Head, Port Henderson, Greenwich Farm, Kingston F.

Complex and Rae Town. Kingston Harbor over the years, has become the source of pollution;

there are major pollutants spreading across the surrounding beaches and fisheries and having

significant impacts on the fish population in the Kingston Harbor and in nearby areas.Fishers are

affected as well (a reduction in the amount of fish caught and income), and the pollution causes

fish to migrate further into open waters or die out. Not to mention that, coupled with climate

change, pollution from the Kingston Harbor also complicates the issue of Overfishing because

the fish population suffers even more greatly than when there was just one contributing factor.

According to William and Mary Ann Cunningham and Saigo, (2003), Environmental

Science: A Global concern Seventh Edition, types of water pollutants are infectious agents,

oxygen-demanding wastes (BOD), plant nutrients and Cultural Eutrophication, toxic substances

and metals, inorganic pollutants, non-metallic salts, acids and bases. Organic chemicals,

sediments and Thermal Pollution and Thermal Shocks. With all the above types of pollutants that

threaten marine life, the effects come right back to humans as consumers through two processes

called Bio-accumulation and Bio-magnification; Bio-accumulation is defined by Mader, (1996)

as the increase in concentration of a pollutant from the environment to the first organism in the

food chain while Bio-magnification is the increase in concentration of pollutants from one link in

a food chain to another. So therefore, all kinds of toxic substances and disease causing agents

that are consumed or absorbed into the system of a marine animal passes into our bodies when

24

we consume these sea creatures and increase in their concentration and effects on the body over a

period of time.

25

Climate Change and Overfishing in Hellshire Beach

Climate is the atmospheric conditions occurring over a given area over a long period of

time or in general. Climate Change is somewhat different from what is referred to as a change in

climate; the earth has a natural change in climate that occurs as a result of the earth’s natural

atmospheric processes (which gives typical weather patterns, heat waves and cold spells, the

frequency and intensity of storms). Climate Change becomes known as Global Warming when

the earth’s natural Greenhouse Effect is tampered with by human activity; increasing the

concentration of Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere through, industrial processes that release

fumes from factories, fumes from vehicles and other means of burning fossil fuels. This results

in abnormal climatic conditions, severe and extreme weather patterns and extreme heating and

cooling in several places around the world. With Jamaica being situated in the tropics and

already experiencing a mostly warm climate all year round, the impacts on marine life is

expected to be extreme; these may lead to shifts in marine life, which may also be amplified by

the stress of overfishing, destruction of Sea grass beds, coral reefs, infrastructure and loss of

livelihoods. The link between Climate and the Ocean is that both regional and global climate

patterns depend on long-term interactions between the ocean and the atmosphere (Stewart 2005).

Another phenomenon that was mentioned in this report that results from the increase in

Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is Ocean Acidification.

“The ocean absorbs between one fourth and one half of all anthropogenic CO2 emissions

(Sabine et al. 2004; Keeling 2005; IPCC 2007).” (Herr and Galland, 2009). While the idea of the

ocean being a huge Carbon absorption sink and reducing atmospheric emissions is true,

dissolved CO2 lowers the ocean’s pH and leads to acidification. However, the most significant

26

statement made in this report was that a doubling of the atmospheric CO2 concentration, which

could occur within the next 50 years, would cause a velocity of change to marine chemistry.

Placed into proper perspective, Overfishing might just be the added stress making this a disaster

waiting to happen; ‘the icing on the cake. Some current effects of Climate Change in Jamaica are

as according to Watson, representative from the Climate Change Action Training (C-CAT):

Negril, Westmoreland, experiences sea level rise and Beach Erosion

St. Elizabeth experiences destruction of several Agricultural Systems

Clarendon is very dry

Manchester has no rivers

27

Coral Bleaching and Overfishing

According to Ecosystems Management Branch of the National Environment and

Planning Agency, (2008), Bleaching in corals is a phenomenon which occurs as a result of

exposure to prolonged periods of high sea-surface temperatures. This usually occurs between the

months of August and October with its climax in September. One such case mentioned in

NEPA’s research paper was when temperatures of 290c were detected in the Port Royal Cays

between mid October to late November 2003 as a result of a hotspot located along the South

Coast of the island. Effects were severe bleaching of specific coral species (Montastrea

annularis, Montastraea faveolata, Montastraea cavernosa, etc.) and in specific to the island’s

assessment, observation range is from 10% to 95% in some areas, nearby countries experienced

high sea-surface temperatures which lasted for 5 to 6 weeks and culminated in a massive

bleaching event. The bleaching of local areas in Jamaica was observed to be in excess of 30

meters. “This was first observed on the north coast in late August to early September and on the

south coast in late September to early October.” (Ecosystems Management Branch of the

National Environment and Planning Agency, 2008). The occurrence of coral bleaching is a direct

result of Climate Change which is as a result of the increase in the emission and concentration of

Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

28

Coral Diseases

Coral diseases were first discovered more than 30 years ago. Since then, only 30 coral

diseases have been identified. According to the Ecosystems Management Branch of the National

Environment and Planning Agency in 2008, in the last 20 years, coral disease has had a major

impact on Caribbean reefs and has lead to unprecedented decreases (~80%) in live coral and

altering the function and productivity of coral reef ecosystems. Damages to corals and their

diminishing health due to diseases have increased in frequency and distribution in the past

decade. The research pointed out five coral diseases positively correlated with the high increase

in water temperature; these diseases are Bacterial Bleaching, Black Band Disease, Plague,

Aspergillosis and Dark Spots Disease. It is also believed by some Scientists that sediment

pollution also causes the diseases to thrive. “Both biotic stresses such as bacteria, fungi and

viruses, and/or abiotic stresses such as increased sea water temperatures, ultraviolet radiation,

sedimentation and pollutants are usually precursor to outbreaks of coral diseases as the corals are

weakened and are unable to effectively resist disease (Santavy & Peters, 1997).” (Ecosystems

Management Branch of the National Environment and Planning Agency, 2008).

Coral Diseases in relation to Overfishing

Coral Reefs are home to many species of fish and also a feeding ground for them. E.g.

Parrot fish feed on algae that grow and attach themselves to the corals. If Parrot fish are

overfished, the corals will die overtime because Parrot fish keep algae in check so that they don’t

multiply in excess and choke the corals. Also, if fish are attracted to coral reefs then there is a

correlation that exists between the number of fish present in an area and the abundance of corals

or coral reef quality; unhealthy corals are due to coral diseases or lack of a key species (Parrot

29

fish) which leads to an increase in coral reef degradation which will ultimately cause fish to

migrate (This is a negative correlation). The relationship involving Overfishing is that fishers

engaged in overfish complicate the situation by further causing the population of fish in a given

area to decrease more than it already did as a result of lack of healthy coral reefs by catching all

of the juvenile fish or killing the remainder that did not migrate.

30

Environmental Organizations

Apart from the Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation (C-CAMF), which was

briefly mentioned in the introduction above, there are a few other notable Environmental

Organizations that either advocate for marine and coastal area protection or support

environmental causes; namely the Urban Development Commission (UDC), the Jamaica

Environment Trust (JET) and The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA).

Role of the Urban Development Commission (UDC)

It was written on the Urban Development Commission’s (UDC) website (2011), that

since 1968, the UDC has sought to transform Jamaica's most viable urban centers and strategic

rural towns, whilst preserving the natural environment and spurring economic development.

Fishers need to be educated about the environment and how our inappropriate or bad

environmental practices can harm the environment and its inhabitants. The earth’s resources are

very much fixed and limited to the number of people utilizing them which is not fixed but rather

increasing each and every day. Therefore, the Urban Development Commission (UDC), one of

Jamaica’s leading Urban and rural development agencies in the Caribbean, has established

Hellshire Enviro Fair during May 2007. The event is actually an outreach program that is

focused on encouraging eco-friendly practices and environmental awareness. This fair was

celebrated because of International day of Biological Diversity on May 22 annually. They also

held a Schools Enviro Competition in 2008 entitled the ‘Hellshire Schools Enviro Competition.’

This competition was held focusing on encouraging eco-friendly practices and environmental

awareness in several primary and high schools in Kingston and St. Catherine through the

development of innovative and sustainable environmental projects.

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Role of the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET)

JET is a non-profit and non-governmental organization in Jamaica and has been operating

since 1991and their main focus of operation is in Environmental Education and advocacy. As

quoted from the Jamaica Environment Trust webpage, (2015), “We operate Jamaica's largest

environmental education program, the Schools Environment Program, which has been in

continuous operation since 1997. We deliver a legal program, providing legal advice to

communities affected by environmental issues, and we conduct campaigns to protect specific

natural resources. We also organize field trips, environmental events and an annual beach

cleanup.”

Role of the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA)

According to published source, (NEPA’s webpage, 2015), the National Environment and

Planning Agency (NEPA) was established in April 2001 as an Executive Agency under the

Executive Agencies Act. NEPA was founded to carry out the technical (functional) and

administrative mandate of three statutory bodies "the Natural Resources & Conservation,

Authority (NRCA), the Town & Country Planning Authority (TCPA), and the Land

Development & Utilization Commission (LDUC)." Their mission is to promote sustainable

development by ensuring protection of the environment and orderly development in Jamaica

through highly motivated staff performing at the highest standard.

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Data Analysis

A total of fifteen questionnaires were prepared, however, due to limitations only eight

persons on the Beach participated in the study. Of the eight participants, six were fisher folks and

two were venders or shop keepers. Six fishers participated when asked the question of whether or

not they co-operated with Caribbean Coastal Area Management (C-CAM) Foundation or other

Environmental Organizations in the management and implementation of Fish Sanctuaries. Those

who answered ‘No’ to the question either don’t know of the Organization or they know but just

don’t co-operate; the results are shown in the chart below:

Figure 4. Showing Data collected in Field Study at Hellshire Beach

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Out of the eight participants in the study, only two fishermen (a young fisher folk and a

shop keeper) have the mentality that the ocean as a natural resource, holds an inexhaustible

abundance of marine life; “Masa Gad, fish cyaa done.” The young fisherman expressed his

understanding of declining catches among fishermen; He understand that it is not a global issue

but rather as a fisherman having to know the best techniques as well as leaving the sea and

returning later when fish are less aware of danger and their presence. There is also a shared idea

or conception observed between two fishers; the idea is that Overfishing has nothing to do with

fishermen but rather is the act of government and organizations in development which leads to

improper land usage and water pollution.

In comparison, a recent and similar study of fisher folks of the Salt River fishing

community was carried out in 2013, where a total of thirteen fishers were selected randomly as

participants of the study and only one fisher did not know what Overfishing was and eleven of

them were affected by it while two claimed to not be affected (one of those affected includes the

same fisher who also stated that he does not know what Overfishing is). In the Hellshire field

study, only one fisherman was not affected by Overfishing and also does not know what it

means. The results are shown in the diagram below:

34

Table 2. Showing Field Study carried out in Salt River fishing

community in 2013

Total No. of participants in

the field study at Salt River

13

No. of participants who are

affected by Overfishing

11

No. of participants who are

not affected by Overfishing

1

No. of participants who

know what Overfishing is

12

No. of participants who do

not know what Overfishing

is

1

35

Table 3. Showing Field Study carried out in Hellshire Beach

Total No. of participants in

the field study at Hellshire

Beach

8

No. of participants who are

affected by Overfishing

7

No. of participants who are

not affected by Overfishing

1

No. of fishers who know

what Overfishing is

5

No. of fishers who do not

know what Overfishing is

1

36

On-site Assessment and Fisher Data

Hellshire is a small fishing village on beautiful whitish brown sand and is composed of

small shacks owned by venders and some fishermen. Fishermen live on the beach and many of

them have their own shacks, shops, kitchen and other equipment necessary for their domestic

lifestyle. The community is somewhat compartmentalized; having fishers in one section, divers

in another and venders also in another section. Fishermen were seen preparing their boats and

nets to go out to sea, sitting and relaxing also buying food or drink items from the local venders

in small shacks and one fisher was seen frying fish and dumplings. Now and then visitors would

come to the beach and one car stopped by a vender asking for directions to the beach. There were

boats out on the beach front and at least two dogs were seen out among inhabitants in the village.

Overfishing

Data gathered from fishers show that the main types of fish caught in Hellshire are Parrot

fish, Snapper and Sprat. It was also noted that most fishers either don’t know what Overfishing

is or they define Overfishing as having nothing to do with fishers at all, but more of the fault of

development and pollution. An estimated majority of fishers generally suffer from a ‘Masa Gad,

fish cyaaa done’ mentality; they believe that the world’s ocean in its vastness cannot be depleted

of its marine resources.

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Pollution from the Kingston Harbor

When an experienced fisherman, who has been at Hellshire for years, was interviewed, he

particularly mentioned that he observed a thick, transparent slime in the water. The published

document on the Kingston Harbor by Mr. Kong, the Director of Fisheries, listed several types of

pollutants of which this ‘thick, transparent slime’ may be classified; Industrial waste, solid waste

and raw sewage. There may also be other types of pollutants found that derived from garbage

disposal from individuals on the streets and communities such as paper, plastic bottles, etc.

When interviewed, all of the fishermen, including a few vendors expressed their dissatisfaction

and negative attitudes towards the effects of Kingston Harbor Pollution on marine life and their

daily living.

Climate Change and Overfishing in Hellshire

Fishers may not have been familiar with the term Climate Change, but one fisher stated

that after Hurrincane Dean in 2007 he has observed a decline in the amount of fish that he

caught. Also, another fisherfolk mentioned that on the day of the study many fishers have gone

home because of the roughness of the sea and that the sea has been that way for quite some time

which has caused many to not go out to sea.

Corruption

One fisherman who was a participant in the study expressed his concern about the regular

studies and efforts put out for remediation of environmental problems rather than corruption and

injustice among Marine Police Officers. He claimed he himself and others that he was aware of

have experienced extortion of their catch while at sea and is dissatisfied with it.

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Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendations

Discussion

Based on the report that Dr. Aiken gave in the interview, through education, some fishers

were able to understand the essence of the Fish Sanctuaries as do other fishers on other beaches

but the fact that Oracabessa, St. Mary, has a well managed Fish Sanctuary and has achieved

tremendous results over a period of time, must mean that some amount of Environmental

Education took place as well as effective conservation and management efforts, specifically law

enforcement. There are other well managed fisheries in Jamaica such as the Queen Conch

Fishery and not all fishers are uneducated, some are open-minded and are willing to work with

groups and Organizations to ensure that there is Sustainable Development and proper use and

management of resources, however, the percentage of uneducated fishers compared to those

educated is uncertain as well as the percentage of those who gained more knowledge and

understanding through Environmental Education. However, results from data collection has

confirmed the hypothesis for this research; the hypothesis states that on-going Environmental

Education combined with effective law enforcement will stem the issue of Overfishing in

Hellshire, even though it was not possible to implement such a hypothesis and observe the

results; because of the time allotted for the completion of the research.

39

Overfishing and Lack of Education

Most fishers generally suffer from a ‘Masa Gad, fish cyaaa done’ mentality; they believe

that the world’s ocean is too vast to be depleted of its resources. However, though technically the

concept of depleting the world’s overall marine content is rather illogical if not impossible, most

if not all countries have their own fisheries (“A place where fish or shellfish are caught which

also ties in with the occupation or industry of catching, processing, or selling fish or shellfish,”)

(Dictionary.com, 2014) which can be depleted. Hence the very few who agree that the fish

population can be depleted.

Most fishers in the study also tried to avoid any form of responsibility for environmental

problems and are also not educated (most fishers are old and one young fisherman-who was not

up to date with current fisheries status and issues, was a part of the study as well) so they will

define Overfishing as having nothing to do with fishers at all, but more of the fault of

development and pollution, which arguably, is not incorrect, as those are just a few factors that

lead to the decline of fish population, however, Overfishing, as the term suggest is another factor

of fish population decline where fishers continuously fish in one particular area more than the

natural regenerative efforts of the marine environment; it basically means that a lot of juvenile

fish are being caught, putting a dent in the future fish repopulation. Therefore while we do point

fingers at developers and community wastes mismanagement, fishers also do contribute through

overfishing. As a result of lack of education for these fishers might also means unfamiliarity with

the term Climate Change, however, they are aware that many times the sea gets rougher than

usual and that causes them to not be able to go out far, stay out at sea as long as they would or

not go at all for a whole day or couple of days. Many do know about the certain environmental

40

changes and even observes them, but are not quite certain or knowledgeable about what causes

them and why.

Pollution

As it relates to pollution, the fisher that claims to have seen a thick, transparent slime in

the water has a high possibility of being correct because of the close proximity to the Kingston

Harbor as well as several other communities. Therefore, that substance is coming from a non-

point source; as there are several possible places where it could have been coming from. Most

fishers were bothered by the effects of pollution from nearby communities and Kingston Harbor

on the marine life as they themselves have seen the pollutants and as mentioned before, have

already evaluated in their minds that this is the major if not the only cause of fish population

decline and their hard life at sea; for this aspect, they are actually correct in their views and

attitudes towards development and pollution.

Poverty and Vulnerability

Fisher folks of Hellshire, like many fisher folks elsewhere, are poor and live a poor

lifestyle; they lack sufficient, necessary resources (financial resources, their diet is limited to sea

food, etc.) and many do not have alternative livelihoods or sources of income apart from fishing

or other fishery related activities. Yet, many have daily needs that must be met; so they many

times offer many services (fishermen are also vendors or they do boat repairs and some engage

in quick, informal ‘on the go’ CD sales, etc.). One fisher also complained about the corruption of

government personnel and marine officers; he mentions that they would sometimes extort them

of their catch. Therefore, fisher folks are very vulnerable to a variety of social, economic and

41

environmental factors. Even worst, their children grow up in the same background situation. So

for some of them, it is a phenomenon that they are not really able to do much about.

The Role of Environmental Organizations

Organization such as the Caribbean Coastal Area Management (C-CAM) Foundation was

given the mandate of conserving the Portland Bight Protected Area (PBPA) and has

Conservation Officers who patrol on a day to day basis to ensure proper management of the Fish

Sanctuaries and law enforcement. They also carry out several Environmental Education and

Consultation Programs with fisher folks such as Symposiums, meetings, etc. However, some of

the limitations they face is that many fisher folks are stubborn and stuck with their own opinions,

mentalities and are not open to accepting Environmental Education, especially when they have

no other alternatives and daily, short term needs; Fish Sanctuaries provide a long term benefit so

there isn’t much fisher folks can do than to find other alternatives to income and wait for the

benefit which parts of Jamaica are now experiencing because of the Marine Protected Area

(MPA) remediation program. As was also mentioned above, many of these people are not

necessarily fisher folks native to Hellshire Beach, but are non-registered fishermen or ‘hustlers’

who are looking for a quick gain from sales and fishing.

Field Study at Hellshire Beach vs. Field Study at Salt River

The field study carried out at Hellshire had a very low population sample because at the

time of the study, it was said by some fishers that many of the fishermen had gone home already

and one fisher also said that the sea has been rough for over a period of time. It was also

observed that commercial activities were very slow. As a result of this, a true, overall result was

not obtained from a greater population sample which might have had other fishers who had

42

different views and attitudes. Whereas the field study that was carried out at Salt River fishing

community, took place at the advantage that a meeting between the local fishers and the Director

Fisheries Division, Dr. Andre Kong was to be held along with several representatives from C-

CAM and the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA); more fishers would have put

out more effort to attend that meeting and therefore, provided convenience for the study to be

carried out.

43

Recommendations

Overfishing

The government has a very important role to play in reducing or preventing Overfishing;

they need to draft effective and up to date environmental legislation and have them enforced in

coastal areas and communities. It is also necessary for the government to provide incentives and

support for fishermen who seek to adhere to Aquaculture and Fish Ponds as well as provide some

alternative opportunities for fishermen and other vulnerable type of people living at or even

below the poverty threshold. Tourists are always attracted to these areas for the sunshine, the

natural environment, the services and the Beach so government should invest in the proper

management and sustainable development in these beaches and coastal areas to ensure that

tourism attraction continues to increase in Hellshire and the South Coast overall.

Environmental groups in both public and private sector should co-operate in the

conservation and management of MPAs and Beaches; being the government’s ‘hands’ and ‘feet’

in law enforcement. It is necessary to have on-going patrolling of Fish Sanctuaries and other

MPAs to ensure that the natural environment is intact and prevent illegal fishing and trading

activities (techniques and the fishing in closed seasons). Whatever planning that should take

place, fisher folks should be involved because their experience in the field is important and they

stand to either benefit or lose as well. Environmental Education is also very important, so there

should be an on-going effort to educate fishermen and children of all ages about the importance

of Sustainable Development and the environment overall; especially the children because they

are the future generation. When fishers are environmentally aware, they will be willing to co-

operate.

44

Climate Change

Climate Change is man-causing an as such, if there are to be any solution, it must come

as a result of a change in mentality from ‘Business as usual’ to Sustainable Development.

Emissions can be reduced to a normal level, but it may not go back to an initial state. At the

national level, government should make, update and enforce environmental laws that are feasible

and will help to reduce industrial emissions, vehicular emissions and encourage the use of

sustainable and renewable sources of energy such as Solar, Wind and Hydroelectric energy.

However, though this is the ultimate goal, each person must start by recognizing their role in

Environmental Stewardship an buy and use renewable sources of energy, ‘Green’ or

Biodegradable products, reduce the unnecessary length of time one leaves on artificial lights in

the home, have their garbage collected by the NSWMA and not burn them, use natural sunlight

during the day and refrain from purchasing and using aerosol sprays, insecticides and

refrigerants.

In specific to fishermen, they can adapt to Climate change by adhering to fishing in other

parts of the ocean, advocate for the protection of fisheries, to utilize Fish Ponds and, Aquaculture

(alternatives).

45

Pollution

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) of Jamaica is responsible

for the proper and regular collection and management of wastes and garbage all around the

country and as such, should make it their point of duty to regularly inspect and clean out sewers,

drains and gullies that run into rivers and ultimately the sea. They should also target and make

daily routine collections at all coastal areas and communities in order to prevent Marine

Pollution (MARPOL). The role of the government in the prevention of pollution is to ensure that

all legislation regarding the improper disposal of wastes or garbage are up to date and effective,

so that the police force can then enforce those laws on persons caught littering in drains or

anywhere else. Incentives are always a good way to ensure that people are motivated towards

proper waste disposal as well as the implementation of various cleanup programs such as the

Beach Cleanup currently being employed by C-CAM, Beautification and Landscaping projects,

etc.

As it pertains to the Kingston Harbor, more effective engineering designs should be

employed to ensure that pipes, tanks and all other channels for the disposing and storage of

wastes are working properly. A proper waste storage tank could be built to collect waste

discharge rather than having it discharged into the sea. Regular inspections and maintenance

should be carried out to ensure that there are no leakages, ineffective systems or discharges in to

the sea or other parts of the environment.

46

Conclusion

Overfishing is a serious social problem in Jamaica and especially in Hellshire Beach, as

fishers, vendors and families are affected by the decline in fish population and therefore the

decline in catches. There are also several other factors that add to the complication of the

existing situation; they include lack of Environmental Education, increased use of illegal fishing

techniques and corruption, which make fishers exploit even more frequently. Pollution and

Climate Change are social issues as well and are separate, but have become entangled with

Overfishing as overtime; as Marine Pollution (MARPOL) from the Kingston Harbor and

surrounding communities also affect fish by death or causes migration of fish species and

Climate Change destroys Coral Reefs (including the exposure to diseases) and marine

biodiversity, both combining with Overfishing and ultimately leading to the same unfortunate

reality that we are seeing today and could lead to even greater damages and abnormal

phenomena in the near future.

Fishers and vendors have experienced the hardship living that results from continuous

and unsustainable Anthropogenic lifestyles and fishing practices and have become a vulnerable

set of people living within a harsh economy; since fishing is not a very sustainable way of life as

it was in earlier times before and most of them live a simple life, are uneducated and unwilling to

adapt to alternative means of earning a living while making use of the little that they have and

trying to provide for their families. Many fishers and vendors have expressed their views,

attitudes and dissatisfaction with the current Fisheries and Environmental Management and

means of government, some are not fishers but rather random persons just trying to get ‘quick

cash’ by catching as much as they can.

47

Much can be done to remedy the situation and several governing bodies are putting out

notable efforts to ensure that there is sustainable development and fishing as well as conservation

of fish species. The establishment of Fish Sanctuaries are one of the notable measures put in

place currently as a conservation measure. There is evidence that confirms the hypothesis of this

research; which is that ‘on-going Environmental Education combined with effective law

enforcement will stem the issue of Overfishing in the Hellshire Beach Community’ because

Environmental Education and the benefits of Fish Sanctuaries have already been noted in several

places in Jamaica such as was mentioned, Oracabessa Fish Sanctuary in St. Mary. There have

been improvements and many fishers have been and are now environmentally educated or

conscious due to Environmental or Fishermen Forums/Symposiums, meetings, etc. and an active

effort is also put into World Wetlands Day, Beach cleanup and other programs for youth and

children each year.

48

References

Aiken, K., and Kong, G., A. The Marine Fisheries of Jamaica. Abstract, Fishing Activities,

Fish Pot Fishery and Status of Fisheries, Pg. 29-32

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52

Appendices

Appendix A

Pictures showing Boats on Hellshire Beach

53

Pictures showing shops and fishing community of Hellshire Beach

54

Recreational Activities

55

Appendix B

A Sample of the Questionnaire used in Field Study is shown below:

The Impact of Overfishing in the Hellshire Community

Answer the following questions carefully by placing a tick in the box beside Yes or No.

1. What are some of the changes that you observe as a result of Overfishing in

Hellshire Beach/Community?

....................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................

2. How does Overfishing affect you personally?

…………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………….

3. Do you cooperate with C-CAM and other Environmental organizations to prevent

overfishing? Yes No

4. Do you know about the Fish Sanctuaries and what they do? Yes No

a. If yes, do you think the Fish Sanctuaries work?

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

5. Is there another way that you earn a living besides fishing? Yes No

6. Has any of your concerns or issues been heard and a solution put forward for it in

any of the previous fishermen meetings? Yes No

7. Do you use the appropriate size fishing nets or pots? Yes No

56

8. What type/s of fishing methods or techniques do you use?

……………………………………………………………………………………..

9. How many hours do you stay out at sea for when fishing?

………………………………………………………………………………………

10. When do you go fishing?

………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………

11. What types of fish are caught here in Hellshire?

………………………………………………………………………………………