Supporting a Sustainable Commercial Fishery
Concerning Information About the Health of Turneffe’s Commercial Fisheries
Turneffe Atoll Trust has been a consistent and strong supporter of a sustainable commercial fishery at Turneffe and Turneffe’s commercial fishermen.
Turneffe has two, fairly distinct groups of commercial fishers: camp fishers and sailboat fishers. Camp Fishers began fishing spiny lobster and conch throughout the atoll five or six decades ago. This group of fishermen have located semi permanent to permanent fishing camps around the atoll, and fish primarily with lobster pots; although more recently with lobster “shades”.
More recent fishers are the sailboat fishers, and even more recently, skiff fishermen who visit Turneffe for periods of 10-20 days on sailboats or skiffs primarily to dive or wade for conch and dive for lobsters.
Turneffe Sailboat Fishers
Turneffe Fish Camp
Commercial Fishing Data
Prior to opening of the Marine Reserve, Turneffe Atoll Trust did an analysis of Turneffe’s commercial fisheries. This included extensive interviews with Turneffe fishermen. Data was obtained for 2004 to 2009, but similar information has not been readily available for later dates. In spite of increased fishing efforts, significant declines in conch and lobster production were noted during this time frame from 2004 to 2009. Over the past 1 - 12 years fishing efforts have increased and empirical information indicates continued decline in all commercial species.