Attempts have been made to culture various other species, but these have generally been unsuccessful. Utilization of the catch Most of the fish from inshore waters is sold fresh locally. About 530 t of meal, processed from tuna canning waste, were produced during the year. Most of this was sold locally to the poultry and pig industry. The per capita consumption of fish has been estimated by the Fisheries Division to be between 50 and 60 kg in recent years.
Fisheries products are the fourth largest export item after sugar, gold, and garments.
Development prospects Much of the potential for increasing fisheries production is from the offshore areas, especially the tuna resource. Promotion of the semi-industrial sashimi longline fishery has been quite successful in recent years and efforts to further develop the fishery will continue. Aquaculture production, although still quite small, is gaining momentum. Tilapia farming, which has been carried out for several decades at the subsistence level, is now being attempted on a large commercial scale. The production of penaeid shrimp has expanded recently and this trend will probably continue.