Traditional fishery rules are poorly documented in the eastern Caribbean. An outstanding exception is the work of James Finlay, the recently retired head of the fisheries authority in Grenada. His thoroughly documented research and industry consultations on the beach seine rules in Grenada have lead to them being recommended for legalisation. This case researched how fisheries stakeholders and the government may approach this in the case of Gouyave, a west coast town known as the fishing capital of Grenada, where beach seining for coastal pelagics and small-scale longlining for tunas are very interactive fisheries. A variety of conflicts have arisen out of these interactions. Although the recommendation to reduce conflict through legislation has been made, and seems
to be agreed with by the fishing industry based on previous consultations, it is not clear if or how the process will proceed. A critical factor is the extent to which legislation will allow local level interpretation and development of the rules to continue. Caribbean fisheries legislation is not known for its flexibility and scope for adaptation. This community-based control is likely to be feasible only if the fishery stakeholders in Gouyave desire this level of power and responsibility. The findings concerning the interaction between nets and boats in the bay, and the legalisation of the traditional rules, are consistent in showing that the fishers have no interest in, or capacity for, taking on the responsibility of managing the fishery without considerable support and direction from government. The fishers have concluded that there is no respect for rules formulated through community structures and processes. This lack of respect and the ineffectiveness of social sanctions is said to be strongest among the younger generation of fishers. This young generation is also prominent in the operation s of the longline fishery with which the fortunes of the beach seine fishery are intertwined.