About Fisheries
Fisheries are integral to the economies and cultures of the Dutch Caribbean islands. The sector faces challenges such as overfishing, climate change impacts, and data collection limitations. Collaborative efforts are essential to ensure the sustainability of marine resources.
Fisheries are a vital component of the Dutch Caribbean’s economy and food security. Sustainable management practices are essential to preserve marine biodiversity and ensure the long-term viability of fish stocks.
Monitoring efforts over the past decade have identified data collection challenges that hinder effective stock assessments. Addressing these gaps is crucial for informed decision-making and resource management.
Fisheries definition
The activity of extracting organisms from water, such as fish, mollusks, and crustaceans, partly aimed at food supply.
Key commodities and initiatives per island
- Aruba
- Bonaire
- Curaçao
- Saba
- Sint Eustatius
Commodities
- Pelagic fish (wahoo, tuna, dorado)
- reef fish (snapper, grouper)
- lionfish
Initiatives
- Fish aggregating devices (FADs)
- lionfish research
- naming and standardization efforts
- safety-at-sea campaigns
Commodities
- Reef and pelagic fish
Initiatives
- Sustainable fishing practices
- marine research partnerships
Commodities
- Various pelagic and reef fish
Initiatives
- FADs
- infrastructure and safety improvements
- fisher support programs
Commodities
- Lobster
- reef fish (Saba Bank)
Initiatives
- Export support
- sustainable harvesting
- marine conservation
Commodities
- Snapper
- other reef fish
- pelagic species
Initiatives
- Marine protection zones
- fishery licensing systems
- sustainable management planning
