A joint operation to curb illegal hunting and fishing has been successful with three hunters held and wild meat confiscated during a river patrol at Burro– Burro, the Ministry of Natural Resources said yesterday.
According to a press release from the ministry, the joint operation was conducted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment’s Enviro-nmental Protection Agency, Iwokrama, the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries Department and the Guyana Police Force on Thursday last at the mouth of the Burro-Burro River, Iwokrama Rainforest Conservation.
The team’s objective was to observe any fishing and hunting activity and to probe and ascertain if it was commercial.
Investigations led to a small aluminium boat on the right bank of the Burro-Burro River with a small generator powering a small freezer, the release said.
Further investigations revealed a significant quantity of wild meat in the freezer with evidence of Powis being cleaned in the immediately vicinity.
The team subsequently detained three individuals and found several rounds of ammunition which one of the individuals was apparently attempting to hide. The release said the police informed the three men that they were hunting illegally for which they would be charged. They were then taken to the Kurupukari Police Outpost.
Approximately 13 labbas (some 170 lbs) and six powis (some 30lbs) were found in the freezer, which was confiscated.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment says it will continue to collaborate with the various agencies to continue similar operations to protect endangered animals and indigenous communities that depend on hunting for a livelihood. To this effect only last Thursday, Subject Minister Robert Persaud submitted to the National Assembly the Wildlife Import and Export Bill of 2013 to be enforced by the Wildlife Management Authority and he also signed the Wildlife Management and Conser-vation Regulation.
