Jamaica is taking a calculated step towards diversifying its seafood industry with the successful in-house production of post-larval freshwater prawns — a move that could position the country to tap into the high-value global market for shrimp and reduce reliance on imports.

The National Fisheries Authority (NFA), backed by the Production Incentive Programme (PIP), recently produced a batch of 15,000 post-larval Macrobrachium rosenbergii at its hatchery in Twickenham Park, St Catherine. The prawns are now being raised in on-site ponds as part of a pilot project designed to evaluate the commercial viability of prawn farming at scale.

“We are positioning local farmers to enter shrimp farming to diversify and increase the profitability of their aquaculture enterprise,” said Alex Clark, senior research officer at the NFA. “Freshwater prawn is a highly sought-after product internationally, and demand remains strong in Jamaica, particularly within the hotel and hospitality sectors.”

The initiative is part of a broader strategic push by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining to reduce Jamaica’s seafood import bill, which topped US$200 million in recent years, and to stimulate the rural economy through aquaculture.

While tilapia remains the most common farmed fish in Jamaica, the inclusion of freshwater prawns through polyculture systems — growing shrimp and tilapia in the same pond — offers farmers a way to increase yield and profit per hectare.

“The long-term vision is to expand the industry, support local farmers, and eventually position Jamaica as a major player in prawn farming on a larger scale,” said Dr Gavin Bellamy, CEO of the NFA.

The prawn pilot follows the ministry’s announcement of a $574-million investment in a national tilapia hatchery, currently under construction in Twickenham Park, aimed at improving fingerling quality, reducing disease, and cutting operational costs through solar-powered infrastructure.

Still, much is riding on the success of the freshwater prawn project. Jamaica previously had attempts at shrimp farming that faltered due to regulatory challenges, inconsistent supply chains, and infrastructure gaps. But sector players insist the problem was never demand — it was supply readiness and cost inefficiencies.

“Places like St Elizabeth, known for their peppered shrimp, have struggled to maintain consistent supply,” Agriculture Minister Floyd Green said at a recent sector briefing. “We now believe the conditions exist to rebuild the sector.”

If the pilot proves scalable, the NFA could open the hatchery’s output to private farmers islandwide. It could unlock new income streams for small farmers, especially if coupled with training, cold-chain infrastructure, and market access through agro-parks or cooperative distribution.

For now, the State agency says it will monitor growth rates, mortality, feed conversion, and stocking densities before ramping up production or expanding distribution channels.

Globally, the shrimp industry is valued at more than US$60 billion, driven by hotel, restaurant, and export markets. In Jamaica, demand for prawns far outpaces local supply, with imports mainly filling the gap in supermarkets, resort kitchens, and restaurants.

— Karena Bennett