Vivette Grant, deputy execu-tive director of the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI), says the regional fishing industry is suffering from a decreasing fish population and increasing competition, resulting in greater hardships for small-scale fishermen.

According to Mrs. Grant, the majority of Jamaican "pot fishers" fish in shallow water. She noted that the stretch of shallow water is very narrow and cannot accommo-date the growing number of fishermen.

She said this has resulted in a significant decrease in the size and catch level of fish. "Industrial pollution has also destroyed nursery areas and severely retard the growth of the fish who manage to survive," said Mrs. Grant.

In an attempt to address this problem, Mrs. Grant said the CMI and the Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture in conjunction with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), have embarked on a project to encourage deep-water fishing instead of shallow-water fishing.

An alternative

JICA, she said, has recom-mended diamond back squid Fishing as an alternative, noting that after three years of research activities, three diamond back squid were caught in St. Thomas, Jamaica and one in Hanover. These areas are now identified as home for the diamond back squid.

Mrs. Grant said many Japanese fishermen became wealthy after engaging in this activity. Diamond back squid fishing generates about US$10 million ($J660 million) annually for the island of Okinawa, Japan.