Since Apollinaire Vaillant settled the island in the 1600's, fishing has been a staple of the economy, with the majority of coastal towns relying on Meridona's fish-rich waters to survive.
The waters surrounding Meridona's Eastern Islands have historically provided some of the best fishing in the Indian Ocean. Until the emergence of agriculture on the island in the early 1800's, the fishing industries of Portobonilla, Kilbonito, and Miraco were responsible for nearly the entire Meridona food supply.
Extreme over-fishing in the Bay of Gulls led to a collapse of the local economy, with several fishing villages turning into ghost towns. To prevent similar issues in the future, strict limits were enforced on how many fish could be caught and seasons were shortened. Throughout the 1980's Meridona Fish & Wildlife director Loudon Djara established a number of innovative measures to preserve the island's fish population to further avoid any chances of overfishing. Despite these strict measures, Merdiona's fishing industry has continued to be one of the island's most vital.
