The approval of two new trawler licences for seabob fishing operations does not breach the quota of vessels that can operate nor does it threaten the international certification of the trade, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha last night told Stabroek News.
Mustapha said that despite his ministry’s granting of the approval of the licences for the operation of new trawlers, it does not go against the agreement in place with the Guyana Association of Trawler Owners and Seafood Processors (GATOSP) and international partners.
He justified the approval by explaining that several licences are inactive and the current number of trawlers operating does not exceed 80.
Mustapha maintained that the licences were granted to a reputable Guyanese company who had been in the fisherfolk business. Though he did not provide the name of the company, he stated that every Guyanese should have an equal opportunity to earn.
After months of not being able to meet, the Agriculture Minister said that his meeting with GATOSP on the controversial is scheduled for today virtually at 2pm.
He intendeds to have frank discussions with the aim of resolving concerns expressed by the operators during today’s meeting.
According to Mustapha, his ministry has conducted an in-depth investigation to have an understanding of the issues and the challenges operators face in the trade.
“I am prepared to listen to them and hear what they have to say and make recommendations. We have to work together to realise the full potential of the industry,” the Minister said.
Additionally, he 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.
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 had said nothing else until yesterday.
The Ministry has faced criticism for the approval of the licences as it has the potential to decimate the industry GATOSP said.
In their letter to the Minister, GATOSP informed 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 licenses 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 certification.
He credited the PPP/C for initiating a seasonal period for catching shrimp adding that when the APNU+AFC government took office in 2015, it built on what was established. It was under the previous PPP/C government, he recalled, that three of this country’s “largest players in the industry” – the three operators – were asked to reduce operations by 30% and cut their fleet of vessels to further ensure sustainable practices.
During the APNU+AFC’s term in office, Ramjattan said that there had been numerous applications for trawler licences but none was granted approval.
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.
