All fishing permits to be declared null and void

All fishing permits will reportedly be declared null and void as of January 15, 2018. Agriculture, Stockbreeding and Fisheries Minister Soeresh Algoe explained that the fishing sector is too cluttered and that there is also too much illegality which is why a new procedure will be initiated to reorganize the sector. Sources indicate that several state employees have also sold fishing permits. Those state employees have reportedly been suspended by Minister Algoe.

The group of state employees reportedly made it possible for the owners of 84 Guyanese fishing trawlers to receive permission to operate within Surinamese waters. This was already the case in 2000. The irregularities came to light after Surinamese fishermen sounded the alarm and told the ministry that far too many Guyanese fishermen were operating within Surinamese waters. ³I have brought everything back to zero,” said Minister Algoe. After all of the fishing permits have been declared null and void a large scale campaign will be launched by the ministry in association with the police and the army. Anybody who is caught in Surinamese waters will face strict measures. Officials are reportedly busy preparing for the new registration. They have already made it clear that handing out dozens of fishing permits to a small group of people will not be the case. The minister made it clear that the strict measures are necessary because the government is losing much of its income. ³We must do it ourselves.”

Reports indicate that neighboring French Guiana launched a similar campaign several months ago. French officials reportedly took firm action against Surinamese and Guyanese fishermen who were operating within French waters illegally.