Workshop explores research and development of artisanal fishing

Fisheries research and development, environmental protection and management, monitoring, control and surveillance, and fisheries operations and support were among the issues addressed when the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries Department held a Sustainable Fisheries Framework and Strategy Development Workshop last week.

The WWF in a statement issued on Friday said, “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.”

Chief Fisheries Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture Denzil Roberts, speaking at the opening of the three-day workshop, which ended on Friday, said, “Fishes don’t recognise boundaries. We must work together to ensure sustainable harvesting, so we do not deplete the stock and leave nothing for the future. It’s not a one-country sector.”

Essentially, 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.

Emerging from the workshop was the need for accurate data to inform evidence-based policies, updated legislation and effective enforcement of laws especially with regard to the licensing process, piracy, and illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing, the statement said.

Additionally, there is need for a transboundary relationship among fisher folk and government authorities within the Guianas.

Meanwhile, Country Manager of WWF in Guyana Aiesha Williams, who also participated in the workshop, emphasised the importance of fisheries, not only for biodiversity significance but also for its importance for food security and livelihoods.

The workshop was held at Cara Lodge, Georgetown and attracted participation from a wide cross section of stakeholders from French Guiana, Suriname and Guyana, including the artisanal fisher folk, industrial sector, officers from the Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Coastguard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, University of Guyana and Maritime Administration Department.

Following a 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 fishes 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. At the conclusion, participants were afforded an opportunity to visit to the Georgetown Fishermen’s Cooperative Society Limited at Meadow Bank Wharf where they observed the operation of the artisanal vessels; they also toured Pritipaul Singh Investment Inc’s state-of-the-art seafood plant and the tuna factory.