As part of its efforts to assist those fisherfolk who have been impacted by low catches over the past six months, the Ministry of Agriculture yesterday distributed approximately 170 food hampers to fisherfolk and their families from the East Coast of Demerara,
The distribution comes months after a group of fishermen complained of not being able to harvest in their usual grounds due to offshore oil operations. Their claim is still to be substantiated as ExxonMobil has denied that its supporting vessels have prevented fishermen from engaging in their livelihood.
At a handing over exercise yesterday, held at the Lusignan Community Ground, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha said that government is working on initiatives to help the industry become sustainable.
“We are looking to diversify because when you look at marine fishing now, not only in Guyana but around the world, we are seeing catches are going down…We will work with you, this year we will be working with the marine fisherfolk to start a cage culture where we will help you all to get cages,” Mustapha assured the gathering of fisherfolk before announcing that the government is working assiduously to acquire the technology to commence marine cage fishing.
Cage fishing, he told the fishermen, has the potential to enable them to earn close to $8 million per year.
With some $743.7 million allocated to develop the fisheries sector this year, the sum of $200 million will be expended to introduce and develop marine cage fishing, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, had announced during the presentation of his 2022 budget.
Those who received hampers were appreciative of the initiative as they lamented that the past months have been difficult.
“We have families to feed and mortgages to pay, we cannot keep going to sea and not making money to feed we self. It is a large investment now to go to sea and not coming back with enough to cover your expenses… It really hard for us fishermen out here,” an affected fisherman had related in a previous Stabroek News story.
Before they were forced to move, the fishermen said, they said that in one haul they would normally collect seven baskets of fish. From one of those trips they would make over $150,000 after selling to wholesalers.
“It is a real struggle these days. I work as a taxi driver but I get a boat to brace me. But now the money from the taxi work going into the fishing business. Every time you go you have to keep investing and you are not getting back your money. My debt is probably close to $300,000 because we just keep losing from every trip,” Rajendra Boodhoo said.
“The fishes carry prices now but we are not getting the catch. The area we normally would have a good haul they don’t want to us fishing there anymore. Bangamary selling for $340 a pound now. Last year it was $120 but we are not getting enough fish to get a good market,” he informed.
According to the man, an average investment for a trip out at sea is approximately $50,000.
The fishermen had said that with low catches in other parts of the Atlantic Ocean along the East Coast, they have ventured all the way to Berbice in a bid to find a profitable area. Their expedition however has been futile and has left them contemplating their next location.
Yesterday, some fishermen said they have been forced to separate from their regular crew members and venture to sea to focus their catch on different varieties of fish.
