Integrating aquaculture into Caribbean development. Part III: regulatory policies to promote the development of sustainable aquaculture in the Caribbean

The worldwide growth of aquacultnre over the last two decades has generated a lot of interest in the development of aquacultnre in the Caribbean nations. However, unregulated aquaculture development can result in environmental degradation, negative impacts of exotic species on native species, and resource conflicts. The creation of national aquaculture plans by Caribbean governments is a prerequisite for the development of sustainable aquaculture industries in the Caribbean. The national aquaculture plan should identifY the national goals for aquaculture development and actions for achieving those goals. Rilles for regulating aquaculture development must be established and the lead regulatory agency must be identified. Policies for pemritting and monitoring aquaculture enterprises should be clearly defmed. By providing a framework for orderly development of aquaculture, governments can create an environment in which aquacultnre can flourish in the Caribbean while protecting the public interest.