| St. Thomas Fisheries |
The Fisheries which take place on St. Thomas are mainly those which have taken place since
the islands were first colonized in the 1600s. Culturally the methods employed have their
origins in Africa or as the result of a migration of French from the island of St. Bart (St.
Barthelemy) during the mid 1800s. The only exception to this is a directed fishery for spiny
lobsters which started when continental fishermen imported Florida trap technologies during
the 1970s.
During much of its history, food from the sea was the primary source of protein. As a
consequence, Virgin Islanders have a deep-rooted cultural attachment to local seafood and to
the fishermen who supply it. When the National Marine Fisheries Service proposed to enforce
significant reductions in catch, older Virgin Islanders said that "it was against the will of God!"
Today the main fisheries are the Fish and Lobster Trap fisheries, the Handline fishery
and the Seine net fishery. Most of these fish are all sold at Saturday Markets around the
island directly to the consumer. Most fishing takes place from small, Locally Built Boats.
There is no intermediate market sector in the Virgin Islands. All fisheries data either comes
from direct submissions by fishermen or by limited government sampling of landed catches.
kingfish, wahoo and dolphin.
the islands were first colonized in the 1600s. Culturally the methods employed have their
origins in Africa or as the result of a migration of French from the island of St. Bart (St.
Barthelemy) during the mid 1800s. The only exception to this is a directed fishery for spiny
lobsters which started when continental fishermen imported Florida trap technologies during
the 1970s.
During much of its history, food from the sea was the primary source of protein. As a
consequence, Virgin Islanders have a deep-rooted cultural attachment to local seafood and to
the fishermen who supply it. When the National Marine Fisheries Service proposed to enforce
significant reductions in catch, older Virgin Islanders said that "it was against the will of God!"
Today the main fisheries are the Fish and Lobster Trap fisheries, the Handline fishery
and the Seine net fishery. Most of these fish are all sold at Saturday Markets around the
island directly to the consumer. Most fishing takes place from small, Locally Built Boats.
There is no intermediate market sector in the Virgin Islands. All fisheries data either comes
from direct submissions by fishermen or by limited government sampling of landed catches.
kingfish, wahoo and dolphin.
