FISHING

Fish are abundant in the warm waters of the Caribbean and have always been an important
source of food. All countries in the Caribbean have developed small scale fishing industries and
freshly caught fish such as flying fish and Mahi Mahi are popular items in restaurants.
Fishing occurs throughout the year in the Caribbean. Over 10,000 persons are employed in
Guyana and several thousand persons are employed in Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.

FISHING METHODS IN THE CARIBBEAN

Fishing in the Caribbean mostly involves the use of small boats and nets to catch fish close to the
shore.
Seining – involves a net that is kept vertical in the water by corks floating on the surface. Two
boats draw the net together encircling a school of fish. The net is then dragged onto the boats or
to the shore and the trapped fish are removed. Seining is used to catch kingfish, shark and carite.
Trawling – in some countries such as Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados, fishing has become
more commercialized with the introduction of fleets or trawlers. Guyana now has over 250
shrimp trawlers. Trawling involves a cone shaped net being dragged through the water by a large
boat (trawler). Trawling is often used to catch fish that live near to the seafloor. The main fish
caught by trawling are shrimp, carite, snapper and cavali.
Other methods of fishing include the use of fish pots to catch red snapper and jacks, and long
lines with up to 1000 hooks that are towed behind boats to catch tuna, swordfish, grouper and
shark.

WHY IS FISHING IMPORTANT IN THE CARIBBEAN?

There are several reasons why the Caribbean has developed and important fishing industry:
- the shallow coastal waters around Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana are rich in nutrients
washed into the sea by rivers such as the Orinoco in Venezuela and Essequibo in Guyana.
- abundant marine life provide food for fish in coral reefs
- mangrove swamps provide important habitats and breeding grounds for fish and shrimps.
- many islands have good natural harbors for fishing boats and ports for export
- there is a long tradition of fishing for food and trade
- tourism provides an important market for fresh fish in restaurants and hotels
FUTURE CHALLENGES FOR THE FISHING INDUSTRY
- Overfishing- often involving catching and killing young fish which cannot then mature and
breed. This reduces fish stocks and is unsustainable.
- some widely available species are under used at present
- pollution from both rivers and the sea from oil, sewerage and waste can contaminate fish and
kill off fish stocks.
- destruction of mangrove swamps for building tourists developments removes important fish
breeding grounds and habitat
- lack of investment in refrigeration and marketing restricts the quantity of fish that can be sold.

CRUDE OIL AND NATURAL GAS IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

- BLACK GOLD IN THE CARIBEAN – Crude oil is one of the world’s most valuable natural
resources. For this reason, it is sometimes known as black gold. Trinidad and Tobago is fortunate
in having large reserves of both crude oil and natural gas, which explains why it is one of the
wealthiest countries in the Caribbean.
The extraction of crude oil and natural gas is a good example of a primary industry. Once
extracted, the oil is used to make gasoline, diesel and kerosene. The gas is used both as a fuel to
generate electricity and as raw material in the manufacture of plastics and fertilizers, which are
secondary industries.
IMPORTANCE OF CRUDE OIL AND NATURAL GAS
The oil and gas industry is extremely important to the economy of Trnidad and Tobago. It brings
in over 70% of the country’s foreign exchange and accounts for 23% of gross domestic product
(GDP). It has fueled massive growth in the country’s economy and has provided many with a
good standard of life.
There are several other benefits:
- over 20,000 persons are directly employed by the oil and gas industry and many thousands are
employed in other related industries
- Trinidad and Tobago has invested money in other industries, such as large steelwork.
- there is an extensive network of gas pipelines providing a reliable supply of energy throughout
the country.
- Money has been invested in services such as education, health and in road building
CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE
Oil and gas are examples of non-renewable resources. They are not being formed today and,
therefore, the resources that currently exist are finite. While Trinidad and Tobago has reserves to
last through to at least 2050, eventually, exploitation will prove to be too expensive. Alternative
activities will need to be developed to maintain economic growth.

AGRICULTURE IN THE CARIBBEAN (DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURE IN THE

CARIBBEAN)
Agriculture involves growing crops and raising livestock on the land. It is an example of a
primary industry.
In the Caribbean dual agriculture economy has developed.
1. Small scale family owned farms – where a variety of crops are grown md livestock
reared. the produce is used by the household, as well as being sold locally at markets and
to supermarkets. This is a traditional type of agriculture.
2. Commercial plantations – were developed during the colonial era alongside the smaller
traditional farms. These plantations concentrated on growing a single crop such as sugar
cane, making use of large numbers of workers to maximize production and profit. Many
plantations still exist today, concentrating on producing food products for export.
Key Terms:
- Arable – where land is ploughed and used for growing crops.
- Pastoral – where livestock are grazed on grassland
- subsistence agriculture – growing crops and raising livestock to feed the family only
- Commercial agriculture – growing crops or raising livestock to sell and make money.
- intensive agriculture – producing a high yield per hectare, often involving the use of chemical
and expensive machinery or labor.
- Extensive agriculture – producing a low yield per hectare, often on low quality land or with
little investment.

THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN THE CARIBBEAN

 Agriculture contributes to gross domestic product (GDP) and to export earnings. Several
countries’ economies are very reliant on agriculture e.g. Haiti (28% of GDP); Guyana
 (25%); Dominica (18%). Generally, the trend in the Caribbean is for this to fall as the
service sector grows.
 Thousands of individuals are employed in agriculture. In Haiti, 60% of the workforce is
employed in agriculture. Elsewhere, Dominica (40%), Guyana (30%) and St. Lucia
(24%) are also heavily dependent on agriculture for providing jobs. The widespread
increase in the use of machines and chemicals earns that the number of individuals
employed is declining.
 Farming provides a great deal of food for locals, reducing the need to rely on expensive
food imports.
 Agriculture provides raw materials for secondary industries such as food processing and
manufacture of rum.
 Incomes generated by farming, supports local services such as shops and cafes

RECENT TRENDS IN CARIBBEAN AGRICULTURE

 The agriculture workforce has declined from 50% in 1960 to 20% in 2010. This is largely
the result of increased use of machines, together with the growth of employment
opportunities in the service sector.
 Increased productivity led to an increase in exports in the 1970’s and 1980’s. However,
since the 1990’s exports have fallen, forcing a shift away from agriculture to services,
particularly tourism.
 Agriculture has become more mechanized, with the number of tractors increasing from
about 200 in 1960 to over 1000 in 2001.
 There has been a gradual loss of protected markets for sugar, bananas and other crops
because of competition from low cost producers in South and Central America.
 The development of organic farming and Fair Trade bananas has helped the Caribbean to
provide for high – priced niche market in Europe, and some farms have remained in
business.
 Other plantations have diversified their production including growing flowers and
providing vegetables for the local markets.

THE GARMENT INDUSTRY IN THE CARIBBEAN

The garment industry mainly involves making clothes and other items such as hats. While there
are a number of large factories involved in the mass production of clothes and employing
hundreds of workers, there are numerous smaller industrial units operating in workers’ homes.
Factories are located throughout the Caribbean, mostly in towns and near to the coast. This is
because of the need for cheap and plentiful labor and local markets to sell the products.
Additionally, products are exported to other Caribbean countries and to the USA, so access to
port facilities is important.
The garment industry in Puerto – Rico
Location – Transport, labor and markets are the key locational factors in Puerto-Rico. Factories
are located throughout the country but are mainly concentrated in towns close to the coast or near
airports. This enables raw materials to be imported and the finished products to be exported. No
industrial site is more than two hours away from a seaport or airport and all are connected by
good quality roads.

CHALLENGES
The garment industry in Puerto – Rico faces three major challenges:
1. Competition from cheaper products produced in Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong
Kong where labour costs are lower.
2. The need to update factories with modern machinery. A new factory has opened recently
in Quebradillas where high tech equipment is expected to produce 2.5 million sweaters a
year.
3. At present, textile factories that produce the raw materials for the garment industry ( such
as cotton, dyes and fabrics) tend to export their products to the USA rather than selling
them to garment industries within Puerto –Rico. Transport costs and the need for imports
could be cut in future if these products were sold to local firms instead.

FOOD PROCESSING IN THE CARIBBEAN

Food processing is an important manufacturing industry in the Craibbean. Food is processed to
preserve it and to add value before it is sold. A huge range of agricultural products are processed
in the Caribbean, including sugar cane, cocoa, citrus fruit, fish, meat, nuts, milk, coffee,
vegetables and the preservation of local fruits. Processing involves canning, drying, smoking.
The industry employs several thousand workers across the region.

LOCATION OF FOOD PROCESSING FACTORIES - There are two main types of location:
1. In food producing areas, such as sugar cane, cocoa and cattle. This is because the raw
materials are bulky and expensive to transport. They may also be perishable and need
rapid processing once harvested.
2. In coastal sea ports/towns where there is a nearby workforce, a large local market ad
opportunities for exporting the finished products. Most food processing plants in the
Caribbean import the ingredients in bulk and package them near the port.

RECENT TRENDS AND FUTURE CHALLENGES

 The food processing industry depends on a constant supply of raw materials and it is
vulnerable to seasonal variations. Many factories import ingredients for processing
 during slack periods. E.g. orange juice concentrate is imported from Belize and processed
in Trinidad and Tobago.
 Increasingly, Caribbean food processing is based on imported raw materials. E.g. in
Barbados, powdered milk is imported from New Zealand to be processed to condensed
milk, evaporated milk and yogurt.

FOOD PROCESSING IN HONG KONG

This is a newly industrializing country that is expanding its economy. Manufacturing industries
such as garments and food processing have developed in Hong Kong for the following reasons:
 It has a large, relatively cheap labor force, with strong work ethic
 Its tradition in trading and development of extensive port facilities make it an ideal base
for import- export industries
 Its close link with mainland China provide a huge nearby market for processed goods

FOOD PROCESSING IN HONG KONG

Food processing is one of Hong Kong’s most successful; and fastest growing industries. In 2008,
there were 786 factories employing some 26,000 workers. The industry is export oriented and
exports to mainland China (48%), Taiwan (16%) and Macau (10%). In Hong Kong, raw food is
imported and then processed before being exported.

RECENT TRENDS
The industry has attracted considerable foreign investment. Nissin from Japan produces noodles
in its factory in Tai Po industrial Estate and is the leading producer of instant noodles in the
territory.
One of the reasons for the rapid growth of Hong Kong’s food processing sector is its strict food
hygiene standards. The high level of food safety gives Hong Kong the edge over food produced
on mainland China.
Changes in Chinese market including the expansion of supermarkets, rising incomes and
adoption of more Western Lifestyles have led to an increased demand for processed food items
in recent years.

FUTURE CHALLENGES
 The industry needs to be constantly adapting to changes in the Chinese Market. With
people living longer and more women choosing to follow careers, there is less time for
food preparation and shopping. Customers re increasingly looking to buy ready meals
and frozen products.
 There is an increasing demand for ethnic Asian items involving rice, coconut milk, ginger
and curry spices.
 Demands are increasing for healthy products, such as low cholesterol dairy products, as
well as low sugar and low salt items. Many companies are producing healthy options as
part of their increasing range. Demand for energy drink has also soared in recent years.