Why has Haiti depended more on farming than fishing since independence?

Following independence, Haiti’s reliance on agriculture over fishing was primarily driven by security concerns. To protect themselves against the threat of a potential French invasion, Haitians traditionally chose to live in the country's interior, away from the coast, which led to a long-standing dependence on farming for subsistence rather than exploiting marine resources.1

While the potential for a commercial fishing industry exists due to major migrations of deep-sea fish such as tuna and sardines in the currents off Haiti's coast, the country has historically underutilized these resources. Today, agriculture remains the largest sector of the economy, though it faces significant challenges including soil erosion, recurrent drought, and limited irrigation.1