The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has expressed concern over the Ministry of Agriculture’s recent approval of two trawler licences for the Atlantic seabob trade, which its local office here has said could lead to overfishing, the loss of trade certification and collapse of the industry.
As a result, the WWF Guianas’ local office has written to Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar 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 11th 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.
With the sector being regularised to operate in a sustainable manner, there is fear that the two new licences for operations will encourage practices that undermine conservation and sustainability efforts.
The Guyana Association of Trawler Owners and Seafood Processors (GATOSP) over a month ago brought the issues to the fore and requested that the minister explain the rationale behind the issuance of the licences. The minister is yet to do so.
Williams pointed out that with Guyana listed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as the largest seabob exporter globally, it is already under international scrutiny over how it manages this fishery resource. The seabob fishery is the country’s only certified fishery sector and the WWF, which has been working with the fisheries sector for several years, assisted the industry in obtaining its MSC certification.
Overfishing
In her letter, she informed the minister that a recent stock assessment of Guyana’s seabob population revealed that it is fully exploited and it is at the point where the population curve is at the maximum sustainable yield.
“Any further increase in fishing effort will lead to overfishing and possible collapse of the industry, since the removal of individuals (seabob) is equal to the number of recruits (offspring) entering the fishery (deaths = births), from a fisheries management context,” she explained.
Williams further pointed out that the sector is a closed fishery with 87 licensed seabob trawlers from which the current harvest control rule is calculated. Any change in the licensing to increase fishing will “therefore push the Guyana Seabob fishery industry beyond the sustainability limit,” she added. Overcapacity and fishing technology, she further noted, can lead to the decline in the fisheries, habitat degradation, especially damage to sensitive habitats and ultimately lead to unsustainability of the fisheries and the loss of the MSC certification for Guyana.
The certification is due to expire in 2025 but a compliance audit of Guyana’s system is scheduled for next year.
Additionally, Williams pointed out that with the Guianas sharing the seabob resources, overfishing in Guyana’s waters will have an impact on Suriname’s fishing sector according to the scientific information currently available.
“The continued success of the seabob industry is therefore dependent on stringent management of the natural resources stock for sustainability, minimization of waste and detrimental practices, maintaining competitiveness in the global marketplace, and close collaboration and partnership by the key stakeholders. The success of each stakeholder is also heavily dependent on sustainable practices by everyone within the Seabob fishing industry,” she further said.
Beyond the MSC certification, Williams stated that the industry supports a substantial number of fisherfolk, and their families based not only on the fish-stock but the premium price that they may get because of MSC certification.
The letter was copied to Denzil Roberts, Chief Fisheries Officer, Reuben Charles, President- GATOSP, and Desha Husbands-Spellen, Chairperson of the Seabob Working Group.
Guyana had gone through several years of rigorous international audits dating back to 2009. After successfully fulfilling its certification requirements, the sector was awarded the certification in 2019.
MSC is the only wild-capture fisheries certification and eco-labelling programme that meets best practice requirements which are set out by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO).
Meeting
The Ministry of Agriculture and GATOSP are expected to meet today. Mustapha has invited representatives of the three seabob processing companies, Pritipaul Singh Investments, Noble House Seafoods and Gopie Investment along with the president of the association.
Efforts to contact Charles on the matter proved futile as calls to him went unanswered.
Mustapha, when contacted on Sunday, told Stabroek News that GATOSP declined the invitation to meet on Thursday last, citing short notice. Nonetheless, he emphasized that despite this week being hectic, he will seek to meet the association.
“I am still committed to meeting with the association but we didn’t get to meet last week because when my fisheries officer contacted them, they said it was short notice to meet and get all their members to attend,” Mustapha said.
Trawler operators have been clamouring for the government to explain the issuance of the two new trawling licences, which they say could decimate their businesses.
The Ministry of Agriculture has said it has initiated a probe to determine the circumstances under which the approval was given but has provided no further information on the licensing.
And shadow Minister of Agriculture Khemraj Ramjattan has since lodged questions with the National Assembly, seeking answers from Mustapha on the issuance of the licences by his ministry, including requests that he identify the licencees any indicate whether due diligence was conducted.
