Transporting Marine Fish Fingerlings to St Kitts

The proposed project aims to assess the feasibility of transporting warmwater marine fish fingerlings, specifically Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus), from Florida to St Kitts and Nevis for aquaculture grow-out. This initiative addresses the high costs and skilled labor requirements associated with hatchery production of warmwater marine fishes, which are significant barriers to developing finfish aquaculture in the Eastern Caribbean. The project will explore the regulatory challenges and logistical feasibility of transporting live aquaculture products through existing air freight channels. The project is structured in four phases: (1) detailing import/export regulatory requirements, (2) producing fingerlings and developing safe transportation processes, (3) preparing final reports and a guide for importing live aquaculture products, and (4) creating a roadmap for aquaculture product trade with another Eastern Caribbean country, using Jamaica as a case study. The anticipated outcomes include a standard operating procedure for air freight transport and enhanced international relations to facilitate aquaculture product trade between the US and St. Kitts. The project is expected to be completed within six months, with significant contributions to the development of new markets for U.S. aquaculture producers and the expansion of aquaculture in the Eastern Caribbean.