Local fishermen likely to ground boats in response to U.S. ban on catfish

Mar 18, 2018 News

Dozens of fishermen are likely to ground their boats as the price of catfish is expected to plummet in response to an export ban implemented by the United States.

Fishing boats in the Mahaica River

Gilbacker, the most valuable catch of the catfish species, usually retails at $1000 per pound.
According to industry sources, historically, conditions are not conducive for gilbacker catch between January and April. Nonetheless, the price of gilbacker remains relatively high at around $800 per pound.
However, by May, most fishermen begin operation, in search of the lucrative gilbacker.
According to some fishermen interviewed by Kaieteur News, there are over 150 small vessels known as cruisers who rely heavily on the gilbacker catch for their livelihood.
Hundreds of small-scale fishermen operate in the West Berbice region and along the Essequibo Coast. There are also dozens of larger inboard vessels that fish in the Waini River, in the Barima-Waini region of northern Guyana and sometimes close to the Venezuela/Guyana border.
The cost of gilbacker is sometimes eight times the cost of other fish.
“I don’t see how we can continue. Gilbacker sales help with the fuel alone to go out and fish. When the price drops, it will make no sense to go out. We depend on fish to make a living,” a fisherman related.
He explained that there was not enough information available to alert the industry about the U.S. ban, noting that he was made aware of the ban through newspaper reports.
Duane Faerber, an exporter, told Kaieteur News that when you take away the export market to the United States the financial ramifications for fisher folk are great.
He stated that exporters might turn to Canada to keep export levels up, but there is going to be saturation point on the local market, which will result in lower prices for gilbacker.
He stated that the U.S. market accounts for 70% of all gilbacker exported while Canada markets take the remaining 30%.
“We have not seen the effect yet of gilbacker because the price is still up. There is still the option of the Canadian market, but how much are they going to absorb before they take a similar action like the United States. When this fish start catching again, if it goes down to $400 per pound as grey snapper then fishermen will be reluctant to go out,” Faerber explained.
He noted that a person selling gilbacker at $800 per pound means that he earns $800,000 if he sells 1000 pounds. This amount, Faeber stated, clears expenses and profits.
“Gilbacker is the prize catch. The fishing boats and nets are built specifically for this type of fish. Any other fish they catch is a bonus,” Faeber stated.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) stopped the export of all Siluriformes fish and fish products (catfish species) from Guyana, effective March 1.
Amanda Cauldwell, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown told Kaieteur News that the U.S. notified the Government of Guyana of the pending export changes in November 2015, more than 18 months before they were to go into effect.
The Government has indicated that the United States is attempting to protect its catfish industry.
Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, blamed Government’s inaction for the ban on catfish exports to the United States.
According to Jagdeo, the Coalition Administration, despite having received notice of these changes, failed to communicate effectively with the stakeholders of the fisheries sector, many of whom have invested heavily in this area.
Jagdeo stated that the Coalition Government received an extension until February 3, 2018, to bring Guyana into compliance with the new export regulations and failed again.

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