What is holding back the ornamental fish keeping Industry in Jamaica?

 

What is holding back the ornamental fish keeping Industry in Jamaica?

 

To some like myself looking from outside inside, the typical view would be this industry does not exist in Jamaica. You might be surprised at the heavy investments being made by large players within the industry both regionally, internationally and locally here in Jamaica. The openness if there is any such word, of this industry to new players within the market or new ideas and investments are considered closed and not open for admittance.

Based on some research in which I have done, there are several private ornamental fish farms in Jamaica, growing, breeding, harvest and shipping ornamental fishes overseas. Some of the fish from these farms might just find themselves in some local petshops, why is so!?. The only reasons why this is so, is partly due to the imperfection identified in finange, colour and genetical structure of fish bred on these farms. This is a sad situation but as an enthusiast, fully engaged in the hobby of fish keeping, i have noticed. If you live in Jamaica, and is apart of this wonderful hobby look carefully, you will see it. It is easy to spot imperfection, once you are associated with perfection. The defects are so vivid. I have seen huge ornamental fish, originating from established farms located in Jamaica, but is labelled not for sale in Jamaica. Indeed sub-standard quality ornamental fish stock are being traded and bred in Jamaica.

Another heart wrenching issue which jumps out at me during my earlier years of fish farming ( not keeping fish), are the efforts being used by fish breeders and traders to  restrict owners of some fish species from actually breeding fish purchased at petshops. I will share with you an example, the cichlid referred to as Blue Dolphin, This specific fish species can be had from mainly two pet-shops in Jamaica. The trader, in an effort to restrict the breeding of this fish by anyone locally, example like myslelf , does not trade female  blue dolphin cichlids. He  restricts breeding, by only trading male cichlids to stores/ shops.

In another case, I have learnt that some fish farmers have opted to feed ornamental fish stock traded locally, with a hormone type substance which prevents breeding. This makes it very difficult for a new breeder or anyone in particular to actually breed fish from the purchased line , acquired at local pet shops.  Base on this fact the sale of specific fish species is restricted to that individual at all times. I think this is out-rightly unprofessional and anti- competitive. So you might suggest , it is his or her monies invested to keep, breed and trade specific fish stock, well that’s true, but wouldn’t you  be of the opinion also that this decreases the experience of most if not all Jamaican Ornamental fish farmer, the opportunity to excel in the keeping, breeding and trading of specific fish species. Doesn’t this act create a wedge of distrust between traders and consumers looking to start keeping, breeding and trading fish in Jamaica of specific species and quality.

To make matters worse, in addition to the above mention, the steps or requirements outlined so as to be able to import ornamental fish are of such that it could be considered too rigorous and costly, if you do not intend to trade locally. The only way I would really venture into the importation of ornamental fish , and primarily to trade with other local. This venture requires too much effort and monies and might be a bit over my head as far as costing. With the shipping and trading of fish, the customer would just foot the actual bill.  The next question is, how often does this really happen?

All shipment of live cargo requires the assistance of a vet or health personnel re: inspection. Quarantine is also encouraged. Again , these expenses would have been footed by the customer. The ministry of Agriculture and fisheries have been working to make the task of shipping fish to Jamaica much easier today, when compared to lets say some 10-15years ago. My only problem right now is the time period given by the Ministry for the renewal of the actual license to do so. Currently this is a mere 5 months.  After 5 months, I would have to start the entire process all over again to be certified to import live aquatic Cargo.

In reference to a statement made earlier regarding chemicals fed to fish which limits reproduction rate , there is another issue regarding feeding fish chemicals. Upon reading on the breeding and processing of Tilapia across Africa and the Caribbean, it was discovered that Male Tilapia Cichlid tend to have more meat than females. As a result, efforts have been made by the industry to ensure that spawned broods are males. This result in larger size fish on fish farms, along with more profit for farmers. Females are restricted to the hatcheries and are not necessarily the first to go as fish stock on tilapia fish farm. I am careful not to suggest that this is the practice of Jamaican Tilapia fish farmers, however, I am just highlighting the extent in which fish farmers go so as to ensure strong returns on their individual investments. This is not limited to just ornamental fish farming, but across the board in fish farming. things are being done so as to ensure the bottom line, of course this is profit.

In addition to the listed issues being had within the ornamental fish industry in Jamaica, there is the issue of pricing and availability. If I had bred a set of fish having the same quality as any stock recently imported, my fish stock is looked down on as if they are mutts and the imported versions are fashion show type fish stock.  Equity of pricing doesn’t exist between imported bred aquarium fish vs locally bred aquarium fish.  This is evident lets say when trading neon tetra and cardinal tetra, imported they cost somewhere in the region of $1,500 per one. No aquariums look good with less than 10 of these fish swimming together. If I should have some locally bred neon or cardinal, the most a pet shop would want to pay me for them is roughly $400 per one.  Their excuse , " it is locally bred".this is so regardless of the quality stock you boast.

In carefully assessing this inequity in pricing two things jumps at me:

1.       The investors with the funding to import large stocks  of ornamental fish on a regular basis, are more incline to do better than the fish farmer who uses innovative means to , keep, breed and then trade his or her  fish stock. Why become involved in such an industry.

2.       The local fish breeder is often times not rewarded accordingly for the work done in producing quality fish stock for the local fish market.

3.        As a result of this existing problem, many ornamental fish keepers, breeders and traders are now becoming careless, why put out the effort, producing sub standard fish stock. I would personally just feed some of their current fish stock as feeder fish to my Oscar and Jaguar cichlids as live fish food.

 

I personally had planned to invest monies within the industry, making for myself a fish room and shipping and trading fish-stock. This idea has been shelved after carefully looking at the prospects of me reaping a return on my investments. I had even intended to change or shift my career from a classroom teacher to an entrepreneur within the ornamental fish keeping industry, now that is a mere dream. There are several persons like myself within the industry, they have spent years looking at their work, making improvements, generating small incomes from pet-shops sales,  and  have been hoping to meet at least a balance between the books and life. Sad to say, the availability of some fish species are absent from our local pet-shops along with the absence of salt water aquarium setup, now that's a different story. To get access to good ornamental fish tank gears/ equipment examples lights, pumps, substrate, plants and fish you would have to travel miles, to visit  local pet-shops, sad to say which basically has the same things all over. Variation seldom exists, and are mostly located in Kingston and St. Andrew Jamaica.

I once had a conversation with a store manager regarding fish stock. The store manager hinted that, the fish stocks which exist here at the store are the cheapest in the store ( stock, in comparison with the birds, fish and pet food, aquarium setups etc.). If the store solely depended on the fish only for survival, it would have closed years ago. Based on this realty, in Jamaica, not many Pet stores carry a huge stock of live aquarium fish. I just don’t blame them, why should they, its costly to have cheap fish in stores which can’t pay the bills. Not much persons locally would venture into the breeding and trading of Discus and Arrowana, again the inequity in pricing is a great discouragement.

I have been producing ornamental fish related videos over the past three- four years, primarily due to my love for the hobby. I also wish interest others, in Jamaica, to be apart as well. On the other hand, at times I would actually trade ornamental fish to private clients and pet-stores. Nothing exists currently which encourages me to invest more in this hobby. The returns are minimal and the efforts needed are so much, I might end up having relational issue in my family if I pursue this path. Imagine trading 4 dozen fish ( cichlid) which takes roughly 2 years to grow to maturity and not even earning monies to re invest in the venture, all monies are used to cover overheads ( light, water, fish food along with  time). Why would this eventually become a business for me in Jamaica?

To make matters worse, some ornamental fish keepers are so thwarted in thinking they fear the idea of collaborating ideas with other ornamental fish keepers. The fear is that, they (the other fish keepers) might become more successful than they (themselves). I regard this mentality as selfish and just stupid. When I started Youtube I met a few persons having the same interest. I did a few videos in collaborative mode and some have blossom and have gone on to be superstars on the platform. Others have collaborated with me, become famous and are famous, but have never ever failed to tag me along with them as they grow on this same platform. I believe both competition and collaboration can work together to achieve the same result. The result one is seeking rest with an attentive audience or membership.

The selfish nature of some ornamental fish keepers have created a sense of distrust within the ornamental fish keeping ranks in Jamaica. I believe this mentality of believing that you should not share ideas is practically rubbish. I believe that If I am skilled at something , I can share the skill with you as you share another skill with me. This is totally lacking within the ornamental fish keeping Hobby in Jamaica. As I end One last point or question !? , which social class practices ornamental fish keeping in Jamaica?

 

To be frank, poorer or lower income persons are engaged in the ornamental fish farming industry in Jamaica , than the middle income and upper income. What distinguished them apart is the level of financial investments and technical support being afforded to all whom are associated within the industry. How much monies will you be able to invest, how can the red tape be decreased in getting things done. On the other hand, the main issue for some might just be , can I sell two dozen fish stock today to settle the outstanding light-bill or phone bill.

The above shared are over arching issues in which I believe have limited the reach of ornament fish farming in Jamaica as a lucrative business and attractive hobby in Jamaica, what do you think?

Would you invest within the ornamental fish keeping industry business in Jamaica?

 

Regards

Raliegh