Anguilla 
Antigua and Barbuda 
Grenada 
Bahamas 
Barbados 
Belize 
Dominica 
Guyana 
Haiti 
Jamaica 
Montserrat 
St. Kitts and Nevis 
St. Lucia 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines 
Suriname 
Trinidad and Tobago 
Turks and Caicos 
National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture in JAMAICA
OVERVIEW
The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) of Jamaica, formerly the Fisheries Division is a transitioning agency within the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining. The NFA is responsible for the conservation and sustainable utilization of the Jamaican fisheries resources in a manner that ensures optimum social and economic benefits to the people of Jamaica.
• VISION: The NFA is a model of excellence in Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture Management and Development
• MISSION: To facilitate the sustainable development of the Jamaican fisheries sector, including aquaculture, through effective and efficient management, regulation, administration, and participatory governance for the benefit of all Jamaicans
• STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE: To improve, the economic, social, and ecological value of capture fisheries and aquaculture while increasing the value of fisheries contribution to GDP by 2026.
Jamaica has a land mass of 10,991 km2, a coastline of 1,022 km and an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of approximately 274,000 km2 or 24.9 times its land mass (Figure 1). The fisheries sector is an important contributor to income generation, employment, foreign exchange earnings, food and nutrition security, social and economic stability, and alleviation of poverty. Many coastal communities depend on fishing as their primary source of income, which is passed down through many generations, not just as a livelihood but “a way of life”. Locally, capture fisheries and aquaculture contribute to approximately 20% of the overall supply of fish and fish products, accounting for 0.52% of overall GDP in 2020. Fisheries also play an important role in the lives of women. Most are vendors and processors, but some are boat and gear owners.
HOW TO CITE: National Fisheries Authority, Jamaica, 2026. National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Jamaica. Contribution 10.10, p 109-118 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume II: National Reports on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture. Papers presented at the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference, 28-31 August 2023. CRFM Special Publication No. 37, CRFM Secretariat https://www.crfm.int/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=964
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