Coming on top of setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, heavy rain in recent weeks has prevented 60 aquaculture farmers from harvesting their production.
This was disclosed on Tuesday by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha at the National Fisherfolks Day, 2021.
A press release from the Ministry of Agriculture said that the event was held at the Georgetown Cricket Club and aimed to recognise contributions by fishermen over the years. According to Mustapha, “Over the years the Minis-try of Agriculture has been working to resolve many of the issues faced by the fishing industry. Issues like not having safety nets for fisherfolk, financing bodies being reluctant to offer insurance coverage to certain classes of vessels, cases where no serious attempts have been made to have fisherfolks registered with the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), among other things are high on our agenda. These issues have been discussed and we hope to soon have them addressed in the interest of all parties involved.”
He pointed to the effects of the pandemic and flooding on the industry.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in market disruptions that severely affected incomes, food availability, and affordability, the lives of small-scale fishers and fishing communities. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected production and earnings in the fisheries sector, with production falling by 12 per cent from 2019. In 2021 the challenges for the fisheries sector continue and are compounded by the impact of climate change. As Guyana continues to experience unprecedented rainfall and floods an initial assessment has indicated that over 60 aquaculture farmers which account for approximately 1,000 acres have not been able to harvest their production,” Mustapha said. Fisheries contribute three per cent of Guyana’s agriculture gross domestic product (GDP), and approximately $11.35 billion to Guyana’s exports, which represents about six per cent of Guyana’s total exports.
The release said that President of the Guyana Association of Trawler Owners and Seafood Processors (GATOSP) Reuben Charles called for fisherfolk, more so the artisanal fishermen to be more unified. He said that the Trawler Association, like other stakeholders in the sector, also faced challenges.
“… I still think one of the problems with the artisanal fisheries is the lack of cooperation. It’s not a unified group and unless they become unified, they would continue to have most of the problems they are facing. The Trawlers Association is faced with low catches and the unavailability of fuel. The government provided a facility where the trawling industry was getting their fuel directly from third-party people overseas. We have not had that agreement renewed since 2019”, he said.
And Chairman of the Number 66 Village Fisher-men’s Co-op Society, Parmeshwar Jainarine said that the unfavourable climatic variations over the last few years in addition to the ongoing global pandemic have made visible the vulnerability of the industry.
“Fishing as we know it, despite the efforts of the stakeholders, the Fisheries Department, the co-ops, and so on, has not been doing as well as we would’ve liked. This pandemic has devastated many in the business. This industry has been one that has felt the full impact. The prices for our catch have been reduced in some cases by over 30 per cent to 40 per cent. Our expenses are going up and the demand for our catch is not there. Most of the major exporters are not buying in the volumes they normally do. In addition to that, we’ve had some of the most extreme and harsh weather conditions. Five to six months ago, it was heavy winds and stormy seas affecting the fishermen. Now it’s heavy rains and flooding. These happenings have shown how vulnerable the fishing industry is,” Jainarine said.
The ministry’s press release referred to remarks by Food and Agriculture Organization Resident Representative in Guyana, Dr. Gillian Smith who said despite the many challenges faced globally, Guyana’s fishing industry was able to secure a substantial amount of revenue in 2020.
“This year’s theme coincides with the commitment and contributions of fisherfolks to enhance livelihoods and consequently reducing hunger and poverty. It also promotes social responsibility to safeguard fish stocks which take into account; fish habitat loss, pollution, and climate change effects. Over the last decade, fish consumption has grown significantly. However, since the pandemic hit, consumers’ earning and spending were restricted by lockdowns along with hotels and restaurants closure resulting in the disruption of the supply chains globally and a reduction in the demand for fish. Despite these issues, the Guyana fishing industry secured revenue in excess of $16 billion, while aquaculture generated almost $208 million for 2020,” Dr. Smith said.
Mustapha also informed those in attendance that his Ministry plans to engage the Ministry of Public Works to reinstate a fuel agreement between the government and the Association which would see them once again being able to purchase fuel from a third-party supplier. He also reminded attendees that it was the PPP/C Government that put that system in place in 2004, adding that the Government will continue to support the Association and the entire sector.
The award for Best Fisherman (2021) went to Kaheel Mohammed, while the most improved Cooperative Society was awarded to the Upper Corentyne Fishermen Cooperative Society.
