Fishing in Barbados

Fishing Industry Barbados Both for Recreation and for Livelihood

One popular form of entertainment for tourists to the island of Barbados is fishing. The waters near the island are warm and are home to many species of fish, including tuna, barracuda, and marlin. In addition to recreational fishing, there are many Barbadian people who are career fishermen who catch all types of fish off the coast of the island and sell them in the local markets.

Cabin Cruisers

For vacationers who want to experience fishing off the coast of Barbados, there are many types of boats and cabin cruisers available for rental. Most include all the necessary fishing equipment, the appropriate bait, drinks for those on board, and a boat operator who will assist the participants in their fishing expedition. A cabin cruise or boat rental is a good outing for a few purposes. First, it allows a tourist to experience fishing in the warm Barbados’ waters first hand. Second, the trip out to sea can also serve as a tour of the Barbados coast line since the boat operator will explain and talk about the island and the history of its fishing industry during the trip. And third, a fishing trip on a guided boat or cabin cruiser is a relaxing, fun and educational experience which may include a stop to swim in the waters or snorkel near the coral reefs.

Fishing Tournaments

In Barbados, the “Barbados Game Fishing Association (BGFA),” is the organization in charge of all the tournaments that take place around the island. The organization has a few objectives:

To help encourage people to participate in fishing events.
To oversee fishing tournaments and ensure that they are competitive, properly run, and legitimate.
To keep track of trends and statistics related to fishing in Barbados’ waters.
To provide important education to tournament participants and try to encourage smart and correct ways to fish, including preservation of endangered species and marine life.

The BGFA is also charged with ensuring that fish caught during any tournament which does not meet the minimum weight or length requirements for the specific species is returned (unharmed) to the ocean.

Barbados: Fishing, a way of life

Many of the island’s local fishermen can be seen by tourists in the very early morning and also at dusk catching fish in the tide pools along the coast, which are home to many fish in the shallow waters. The fishermen in Barbados catch fish using many techniques. Many walk along the beaches and use nets to catch fish. Some set traps for fish in shallow waters and also in the deeper parts of the ocean. Others use different types of boats to access the larger fish that swim farther out at sea. The local fishermen in Barbados take what they catch and sell the fish in local markets and on the roadside. They sell all sorts of species, including snapper, tuna, shark and much more. These fishermen make their living catching and selling fish to local Barbadian residents as well as many of the restaurants which cater to the island’s tourists.

Fisheries Management in Barbados

Barbados is a country dedicated to the preservation of wildlife and the health of the waters surrounding the island. Therefore, they have a legal authority which oversees the fishing industry around their country. The “Fisheries Act,” ensures that the fishing industry is managed appropriately and that fisheries are run in an appropriate manner. The management oversees things such as fishing policies and planning, fishing licenses, fishing research, quality of harvested fish, enforcing the “closed” fishing season, ensuring proper fishing vessels and gear is used, and also many other rules and regulations.