Fisheries sector applauds introduction of VMS

Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Stockbreeding and Fisheries (LVV) recently had a follow up meeting with representatives of the fisheries sector in Paramaribo in order to reach a decision regarding the implementation of the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS). The ministry explained that the VMS is a tool that the government can use to monitor all fishing activities and to make sure that fishermen stick to the terms of their fishing permits. Last year the Regulation of the Fisheries Sector commission was established and tasked with formulating a step-bystep plan aimed at regulating the fisheries sector. The commission will also present several proposals aimed at putting an end to the illegal fishing activities. Representatives from the Ministry of Fisheries; the Trade, Industry & Tourism Ministry; the Ministry of Justice and Police, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Home Affairs (Biza) are on the commission. The commission has already had many talks with all parties and the plan is to get the system up-and-running on January 1, 2020. Fisheries Minister Rabin Parmessar made it clear that he wanted to get the fisheries sector actively involved in the process. The representatives of the fisheries sector on Monday were informed of the way the VMS will operate and the safety features that come with it. Colonel Jerry Slijngaard from Suriname’s Coast Guard explained how the system should work and which advantages and disadvantages could arise when the Coast Guard responds to calamities. Minister Parmessar made it clear that when the next batch of fishing licenses are ready, they will be distributed without regard for persons in order to regulate the sector. He also made it clear that “if we want to protect this sector, everybody must comply with the terms that have been adapted.” Minister Parmessar explained that it is a huge task for the ministry to get things back on track especially given the fact that these things were tackled wrongly for many decades. He strongly believes that the regulation efforts will be successful, if the sector and all other institutes fully cooperate. “The sector must also be protected against overfishing.”