Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 25, 2017 News
“Fishes don’t recognise boundaries. (Therefore), we must work together to ensure sustainable harvesting so (that) we do not deplete the stock and leave nothing for the future. It’s not a one-country sector.”
Those were the poignant words of Mr. Denzil Roberts, the Chief Fisheries Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture, as stakeholders welcomed the recent opening of the Sustainable Fisheries Framework and Strategy Development workshop.
The crucial event was organised by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries Department.
The three-day workshop was held from June 21 to June 23, 2017 at Cara Lodge. It attracted the participation of stakeholders from Guyana, French Guiana and Suriname, including the artisanal fisher folk, industrial sector, Fisheries Officers from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Coast Guard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, University of Guyana and the Maritime Administration Department.
The workshop sought to promote the development, management, monitoring and sustainable use of marine living resources and the development of Guyana’s Artisanal fisheries sector.
Aiesha Williams, the Country Manager of WWF in Guyana, emphasised the importance of fisheries, not only for its biodiversity significance, but also for its importance for food security and livelihoods. The areas of focus for the workshop were fisheries research and development, environmental protection and management, monitoring, control and surveillance, and fisheries operations and support.
The key take-away from the workshop was that there is need for accurate data to inform evidence-based policies, updated legislation and effective enforcement of laws, especially with regards to the licensing process, piracy and Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing.
It was also noted that there is a need for a trans-boundary relationship among fisher folk and government authorities within the Guianas. Following the knowledge exchange from each country, the participants had the opportunity to propose their key objectives in order to formulate action plans and strategies for implementation.
The proposals included creating structured and functional cooperatives; establishing incentives for artisanal fishers for the submission of accurate data; forming a traceability mechanism for fish from catch to export; more capacity-building for both the staff of the Fisheries Department and fisher folk; and an urgent call to move beyond the strategic planning phase, so that concrete actions are executed.
The workshop was only the first step towards improving the artisanal fishery sector in Guyana and the final report will be submitted to the relevant authorities for implementation of strategies.
The workshop ended with participants making an early morning visit to the Georgetown Fishermen’s Co-operative Society Limited at Meadow Bank Wharf where they observed the operation of the artisanal vessels, followed by a visit to Pritipaul Singh Investment Inc. (PSI Inc.) to observe the operations of the fishing industry.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
Mar 28, 2024
Minister Ramson challenge athletes to better last year’s performance By Rawle Toney Kaieteur Sports – Guyana’s 23-member contingent for the CARIFTA Games in Grenada is set to depart the...B.V. Police Station Kaieteur News – The Beterverwagting Police Station, East Coast Demerara (ECD) will be reconstructed... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News – In the face of escalating global environmental challenges, water scarcity and... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]