Over the past 25 years, commercial marine fish cage farming in the Caribbean has expanded slowly but steadily, resulting in only a few established ventures. As of 2025, Panama leads regional production with two companies: Open Blue Sea Farms, operating 22 fully submerged cages, and Dyer Aqua, operating 13 floating cages. The Dominican Republic follows with Kilic Dominicana, which manages 12 surface cages. A detailed overview of commercial cage-based mariculture activity – by country, company, scale, and production practices are covered.
Despite the limited number of operating farms, nearly all Caribbean nations express strong interest in developing marine aquaculture. The region’s potential is unequivocal: stable year-round environmental conditions and the presence of high-value native species have attracted increasing attention from governmental agencies and private investors. Multiple site assessments and feasibility studies conducted across the region indicate highly favorable biological and economic conditions for expansion.
Given proven technologies now exist to culture commercially important marine species from egg to market, the primary barrier to growth appears to be insufficient capital investment rather than technical constraints. A major development is underway in Puerto Rico, where a commercial marine hatchery (Cultimar) will supply millions of juveniles for stocking cage farms throughout the Caribbean. Red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) the principal target species, with red drum or red fish (Sciaenops ocellatus), kampachi or almaco jack (Seriola rivoliana), and various groupers (Serranidae) are identified as candidates.
International organizations have recently expressed support for regional aquaculture development. Both the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) have initiated efforts to quantify and accelerate the sector’s potential. FAO is currently funding a pilot-scale red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) cage-culture project in Jamaica, implemented with collaboration from the National Fisheries Authority (NFA). Although the first batch of Florida-produced juveniles suffered complete mortality during a hurricane-related power outage while held onshore, the initiative’s partners remain committed to advancing the project. These efforts collectively represent critical steps toward establishing a viable and sustainable commercial marine aquaculture industry across the Caribbean.