Committee set up on controversial trawler licences, other matters

-names of holders still elusive

A committee comprising members from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Guyana Association of Trawler Owners and Seafood Processors (GATOSP) will be installed in the new week to address the controversial issuance of two new trawler licences for seabob fishing operations.

Speaking with this newspaper after he met with GATOSP virtually yesterday,

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha told Stabroek News that the meeting which was postponed on two occasions achieved its objective and both parties have committed to ironing out the concerns.

He stated that the committee will be tasked with meeting regularly and will propose recommendations and solutions to key issues in the sector.

Mustapha added that the committee will not only meet to work out the issuance of the two trawler licences but also other findings unearthed from the ministry’s in-depth investigation. The ministry had launched an in-depth investigation into the sector subsequent to the trawlers association registering concern over granting of the licences.

According to Mustapha, GATOSP has indicated that they will be submitting the names of their representatives on Monday by way of letter and immediately after he will constitute the committee. He noted too that the committee will be headed by Chief Fisheries Officer Denzel Roberts.

The minister said he used the opportunity to inform members also that the Ministry has no intention of acting in contravention of their agreement on the number of licences or to undermine their international certification from the Marine Stewardship Council.

According to the extant agreement with GATOSP, no more than 87 vessels should be operating in the industry. The minister had pointed out that some licences are currently dormant.

Meanwhile, Stabroek News was informed that questions as to the identity of the holders of the licences received little attention at the meeting and no names were revealed.

This newspaper also understands that despite the licences being granted, the holders are not operating. Mustapha is scheduled to deliver answers on Thursday, January 28 in Parliament on the identity of the holders of the controversial licences.

GATOSP member Leslie Ramalho of Noble House Seafoods told this newspaper that the meeting was fruitful and they look forward to having the issue settled.

He noted that members yesterday registered their concern that due process was not followed before the new licences were granted.

Ramalho explained that each member of the association is required to put forward a representative for the committee. He however noted that GATOSP is still to meet and identify their representatives.

In mid-November, GATOSP brought the issue to the fore when it argued that the two licences had been granted in contravention of sustainable fishing practices.

Since the protest, the Ministry of Agriculture has initiated a probe to determine the circumstances under which the approval was given but has said nothing about the process or the identity of the holders of the licences.

The Ministry has faced criticism for the approval of the licences as they have the potential to decimate the industry, GATOSP had argued.

In its November letter to the Minister,

GATOSP had said that the addition of any vessel to the current licensing agreements is in contravention of the pact that it and the Fisheries Department of the ministry had agreed to.

The GATOSP letter also stated that members had been alerted of the two new licences after reports began circulating in the fishing community. It added that some level of confirmation surfaced afterwards when the supposed holder of the new licences approached the owner of one of the seabob processing plants for an agreement whereby the plant would process the shrimp caught by his vessel.

Given the implications, the WWF Guianas’ local office has also written to Mustapha seeking clarification on the context in which the licences were granted. “…We would be grateful if you can provide any information you may have in relation to this matter,” Aiesha Williams, Guyana Country Manager for the WWF Guianas, wrote in the December 11 letter, saying there was need to better understand the context in which the licences were issued.

Williams also expressed concern over the reported issuance of the new licences in a manner that could have “deep implications” for the country’s ability to maintain its Maritime Stewardship Council (MSC) certification over seabob.

Shadow Minister of Agriculture Khemraj Ramjattan, who filed his notice of questions to the National Assembly seeking answers from Mustapha on the issuance of the two new trawler licences had said much work was done for operators to receive the international sustainability certification.

Guyana, Ramjattan noted, is one of the largest exporters of seabob in the world and exports approximately 45% of the global demand.

In 2019, Guyana exported almost 21,000 metric tonnes and in 2018, 22,000 metric tonnes, the Shadow Minister added.

Ramjattan is seeking answers to the following questions from Mustapha: 1. To whom were two new trawler licenses issued for years 2020-2021 by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries Department?

2. Was there any due diligence conducted on these license(s) to verify a meritorious grant thereof?

3.If there was any such due diligence done, could the Minister provide copies to this House of the said due diligence Report(s)?

4. Was the Guyana Association of Trawler Owners and Seafood Processors Association (GATOSP) consulted in any way prior to this grant of the two trawler licenses?

Mustapha on Thursday disclosed that his ministry has procured a vessel to conduct inspection of the seabob trade. He noted too that in the upcoming budget he is seeking to procure more equipment to boost the capacity of the fisheries department to execute their mandate.