In view of the nature of the task, the Aquaculture Development and Coordination Programme proposed that a study group be formed comprising full-time Jamaican staff (2 aquaculturists and 1 economist) and the ADCP staff assigned to the task. This proposal was accepted. The study group composition is given in Annex 1.
The study group was asked to answer the question: how should the Jamaican Government use its resources in order that private industry, entrepreneurs and farmers act so that aquaculture expands in harmony with the Government's development objectives?
The study group initiated its work on 13 January with the arrival of the ADCP economist. The group started by reviewing in detail ongoing aquaculture. In the course of the following three weeks its members visited all ongoing aquaculture activities and a large number of the sites judged to have potential as locations for extensive or semi-intensive mariculture or fish culture (see Annex 2 for a listing of sites visited). This review led the group to have interviews with a number of government officials and private individuals involved in one way or another with aquaculture, or with activities with a direct bearing on the possibilities of future aquaculture activities (see Annex 3). The study group also conducted a literature review (see Annex 4).
There is an incipient interest in the culture of aquarium fish for export. Such culture might be beneficial; however, the study group has not been able to analyse this possibility as none of its members are experienced in this field.
The study group has focused its attention on aquaculture activities which resemble animal husbandry; that is, on activities in which the animal is controlled until it reaches commercial size. Culture of marine animals or plants might be useful to re-establish species which are threatened with extinction, or which are heavily exploited by capture fisheries or threatened for other reasons. The study group has not explicitely considered aquaculture for such purposes.
Following the review of ongoing public and private efforts in aquaculture, the study group, through discussions, selected a set of typical aquaculture technologies which in its view should form the core around which an aquaculture policy should be formed. That policy was formulated, and during mid-February presented to and discussed with concerned Government officials.
The study group was of the opinion that the following considerations should be brought to bear upon the selection of typical aquaculture technologies:
The financial results of the typical production unit 1; that is, a comparison of expenditures, however measured, with revenue, however measured.
The possible magnitude (production/year in Jamaica) that the culture technology could reasonably be expected to assure at a future point in time, given a defined Government development effort.
The nature and magnitude of the Government development effort (research, extension, financial incentives) required to develop self-sustained aquaculture production units.
The risks associated with the various culture technologies (technological, environmental, disease, predators, economical).
The impact of the various aquaculture production units on defined government development objectives (employment, fish for human consumption, foreign exchange).
The report from here on follows by and large the sequence of the investigation, as outlined above. The detailed information on species, sites, culture technologies and typical aquaculture production units is presented in Annexes.
1 See Annex 9 for economic appraisals of the typical aquaculture production units
