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Spiny Lobster Closed Season is April 1 – June 30 each year
Government of Jamaica

Telephone

+1 876 948 9014

Email Address

fisheries@nfa.gov.jm

Office Address

2C Newport East, Kingston, Jamaica

NATIONAL FISHERIES AUTHORITY

JAMAICA

Home

AQUACULTURE

Breeding and harvesting fresh water fish.

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CAPTURE FISHERIES

Fisherman's corner, lobster and conch season.

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LICENSING AND COMPLIANCE

Licensing and registration of fishers and vessels

Apply for Licence

Lobster Season

Tilapia Farm

Conservation Areas

Boat Fishing

ABOUT US

National Fisheries Authority

The National Fisheries Authority is responsible for the conservation and sustainable utilization of the Jamaica Fisheries resources in a manner that ensures optimum social and economic benefits to Jamaica.

This is achieved through proper fisheries management involving research, monitoring of environmental quality, education and training, enforcement, licensing and registration, data collection and community outreach.

The two major branches are Marine Capture and Aquaculture.

  • Roles and Functions
  • Supporting Agencies
  • Starting a Freshwater Fish Farm
  • Lobster and Conch Season
  • Licensing and Registration
  • Invasive Species: Lionfish
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PROJECTS

Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience Jamaica

The Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR) is a funding mechanism under the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) which helps developing countries integrate climate resilience into development planning and investment.

The Government of Jamaica (GOJ) in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Bank developed Jamaica’s Strategic Programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR) to help the country to strengthen its resilience to climate through enhancing adaptive capacity across priority sectors.

The PPCR has a two phase programmatic approach:

  • It assists national governments in integrating climate resilience into development planning across sectors and stakeholder groups.
  • It provides additional funding to put these plans into action and to pilot innovative public and private sector solutions to pressing climate-related risks.

OUR SERVICES

Licensing and Registration

Fishers and their vessels (commercial or recreational) are expected to be registered with the Fisheries Division. Registration is important, in that, it legitimizes both fisher and vessel as being bona fide in the Fishing Industry.  therefore acts as a fisheries monitoring tool.

It is a breach of the Fishing Industry Act, 1975 to fish or attempt to fish without having a valid licence or permit issued by the Licensing Authority and will result
in a penalty or summary conviction in a Court of Law.

Inspection

Before registration, an authorized Fisheries personnel has to examine the vessel.
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DEPARTMENTS

AQUACULTURE

Commercial aquaculture was introduced to Jamaica in 1976 through a USAID/GOJ funded project. This project was very successful and led to the establishment of aquaculture in Jamaica. Although aquaculture has grown to include shrimp farming and ornamental aquatic flora and fauna species, tilapia is the main food fish produced in Jamaica both for local consumption as well as for export.

The Aquaculture Branch of the Fisheries Division, under the auspices of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture & Fisheries, has been mandated to provide the support mechanisms needed to foster the sustainable development of the Aquaculture sector.

This is achieved through the following:

  • Provision of extension services
  • Provision of support services
  • Adaptive research of economically viable species
  • Training and technology

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Fish Farm
Registrations

More Active
Production Ponds

CAPTURE FISHERIES

Fisherman's Corner

Important information for fishermen about lobster season, conch season and invasive species.

LEARN ABOUT

Lobster Season

LEARN ABOUT

Conch Season

FISHING VESSELS

Licensing and Registration

INVASIVE SPECIES

Lionfish

1976

Old Fisheries Act

In 1976, the first Fisheries act was created.
2018

New Fisheries Act

The new Fisheries Act of 2018 repealed the original act of 1976
2019

National Fisheries Authority

The National Fisheries Authority was created on June 1, 2019.
2023

Online Licensing System

NFA launched new online Fisheries Licensing System

Spear Fishing

Lobster Season

Conch Season

Licensing and Registration

Departments

Capture Fisheries

Capture Fisheries covers the fishing of conch, lobster and other types of fish, as well as the registration of fishing vessels.

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$ 104 Million

Gross GDP

Contributing an average of $16 billion to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) annually

3600

Fishing Vessels

Successful on delivering the best seafood Worldwide

180

Fishing Beaches

Ensuring a constant supply of fish to the market.

Aquaculture

Breeding and harvesting fresh water fish.
Learn More

Capture Fisheries

Fisherman’s corner, lobster and conch season.
Learn More

MEDIA

Our Latest Articles

Find out about what the National Fisheries Authority has been up to in the news!