Ifremer has just made a 2024-2025 assessment of the state of the sea resource in the overseas regions. In coastal fishing, the West Indies represent the largest volume of so-called landed fish. In Guadeloupe, they arrive in good condition and there is little overfishing.
Ifremer has just made an update on the state of fish exploited in coastal fisheries in part of the Overseas Territories. This 2025 review is based on information from 2024. We speak of « fish state« , in terms of resource. This information makes it possible to make a diagnosis for different species and distinguish those that are overfished or in the process of reconstitution, i.e. sustainably fished but with a total mass still insufficient in their natural environment.
Guadeloupe and Martinique represent 63% of the volume of fish landed in 2024
Guadeloupe and Martinique total 63% of the volume of fish landed in coastal fishing in the overseas departments in 2024, i.e. nearly 4,400 tons. Twenty fish populations are evaluated. The same, but with different diagnoses, illustrating the productivity gaps of marine ecosystems and in local regulations. In Guadeloupe, 55% of fish populations are in good condition: 5% overfished, 2% overfished and degraded, and 38% unvalued. In Martinique, 49% are in good condition: 13% overfished, 17% overfished and degraded, and 21% are not evaluated.
In Mayotte and Reunion Island, the number of species evaluated increases every year. They are also in good condition: 53% in Reunion, 39% in Mayotte. In these two territories, 1% of the populations are reconstitutable. It’s little, but they are the only ones where this criterion appears. Guyana stands out with 50% of the overfished and degraded populations. However, there are also 34% in good condition and 16% are not evaluated. These figures concern 8 species. The vivaneau, widely fished on site, is exploited by other flotillas and is not included in the balance sheet. Four of the eight species make up 80% of the 1,900 tons caught in 2024. More than a third just for the red acupa. A species heavily impacted by illegal foreign fishing that is difficult to quantify.
source : la 1ere france info
