Govt. mulls special facility to support fisheries sector

Jun 30, 2010 News

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“I am prepared to do something that is similar to what we have done for housing and for the single-parent households,” President Bharrat Jagdeo told participants and other attendees of the National Fisherfolks Convention held on National Fishermen’s Day 2010 at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendal, East Coast Demerara.
Delivering the feature address at the opening ceremony yesterday, the President pointed to the single-parent funding set up in collaboration with the banking sector, and the easy access loans to persons in this group. He stated the need to explore something similar for the fishermen.
“If the bank were to put up a facility, they would have access to this facility and to reduced interest rates, because of the special tax treatment we are prepared to give to the banking community,” the President said.
The first ever convention of its kind in Guyana was organised to coincide with National Fisherman’s Day and saw fishermen from across the country coming together with other stakeholders to discuss the future of the industry. Topics that were discussed included the sustainable development of Guyana’s Marine Fisheries, focusing on shrimp and ground fish. This was approached through discussions on management of the eco-system. The Trawlers Association made their input as they focused on the repositioning of the industry and the important role small fisherfolk would play in doing this.
Discussions also revealed the opportunities and the projected growth of the aquaculture sector, which is projected to grow significantly in the near future.  The security and safety of the sector saw input from the Coast Guard and the Ministry of Labour.
The Mangrove Restoration Project of NARI also made their input as they outlined the importance of their work to the fisheries sector. For inland fishing, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs explained their secure livelihoods programme.
Chief Fisheries Officer, Mohamed Khan, outlined the approach to fisheries management in Guyana. Khan, who is also the Chairman of the Greater Georgetown Fishermen Co-op Society, pointed out that artisanal fisheries in Guyana are the backbone of the sector.
Employing 9,600 fishermen, contributors and persons earning from the sector include boat builders, engineers and fish vendors, all contributing to the GDP and coming close to rice in earnings.
Khan expressed pleasure of the recognition and the introduction of aquaculture in the sector. Acknowledging that among the major problems of the sector were piracy and smuggling, Khan lamented that while Government action brought some abatement, pirates go before the court and after a while they are back out again. He urged fishermen to come up with ideas for something realistic.
Chairman of the National Aquaculture Association of Guyana (NAAG), Beni Sankar observed that aquaculture is definitely going to be the way forward, going hand in hand with the LCDS. “With global warming and over-fishing it will fill a gap,” he stated.
Pointing out that Guyana is very well located in the equatorial belt for aquaculture, Sankar said that with good technology, feed and water quality, done properly, aquaculture will be very competitive.
Dr. Lystra Fletcher-Paul, of the international Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, said that the fisheries and aquaculture sector plays an important role in nutrition and the fight against hunger. She said that for the industry to grow there needs to be effective management and conservation, adding that fisherfolk have an important role to play in the effective management of the coastal eco-system by the fisheries sector of the region.
Challenges also present opportunities, she said, “Opportunity for you to take ownership and work together with government and other developmental partners…facing new and emerging challenges.” She emphasised the FAO’s committment to assist the sector.
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud in saluting the fisherfolks on their day told them that, “…you are one of the most resilient and hard-working communities in our country…you are entrepreneurial and not afraid to take risks…a formula for success.”
He expressed the desire for the convention to be used as a forum to jointly discuss and debate the main issues affecting the sector and the actions required to move it to the next level.
The Minister outlined the steps that government had taken over the years to improve the sector, adding that it was time now to take stock on how effective the plan has been for its development, “and see where in a changing global environment, adjustments need to be made.”
President Jagdeo added that some of the resources that Guyana garners from trading in ecosystem services will have to be directed to this sector, which can become even more important in the future. But, he pointed out, the global demand is depressed.
“There is a worrying sign now that because of what has happened in Europe, there is the accumulation of significant amounts of debt and large fiscal deficits owing to unsustainable policies. There is this fear that…we may either remain flat for a long while in terms of global demand, overall, or alternatively, we will see a  ‘double dip’ recession – that is a second recession coming up.”
He pointed out that many European countries are urged to focus on spending to support growth rather than immediately trying to cut their fiscal deficits or debt profile.
“But anyway you have it, it’s going to be a very difficult global environment, and we anticipate demand will be flat at best.”
Pointing out that the stakeholders are going to sell in that market, he added that a significant part of Guyana’s fish goes into the global market.
“I don’t see any possibility, unless you have maybe higher cost, producers falling out, or like what is happening in the Gulf, the people are worried about seafood coming from those areas. Barring those specific occasions, you may have to export in a market that is not very good in the next few years,” he cautioned.
The president urged that the sector find ways to increase the demand for fish in the fast food industry.
“We have to explore ways of growing local demand for the product if international demand will be flat for a while. We will have to constantly work at increasing productivity.”
He added that stakeholders must also explore ways of cutting costs, adding that through competition there may be a way to capture more markets.
“All of these issues have to be debated robustly, along with what kinds of help you need from the state. We are committed to ensure that that kind of environment is in place.” he asserted.
The Head of  State also pointed to the need for much more research and extension services; the need to develop deep sea resources; how to measure what is there as well as the stocks and migratory patterns of fish, and fishing in areas that are exploited.
He pointed also to the need for fishermen to know about the seasons and understand the need to replenish the stocks.
Infrastructure is another key element for development, he pointed out, adding that Government will make a significant input in that respect.
Explaining that security is an important issue which has been discussed at length, President Jagdeo suggested that because of the vastness of the areas to be protected, this will probably see the use of technology.
He has also suggested that some of the requirements for the licensing of fishermen be abolished.

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