FAO study on poor catch

Sep 06, 2022 Letters

Dear Editor,

The recent statements coming from the Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo and the Minister of Agriculture Mr. Zulfikar Mustapha that the reason the fishermen of Guyana are experiencing low and poor catches was due to effects of climate change (too much rains affecting the salinity of the sea water) leave more questions than answers. Both esteemed gentlemen gave as their explanation that this conclusion came from a study purported to have been done by the FAO, the Fisheries Department and the EPA. Fishermen have not seen the documents that had made up the study as yet, why is this document been kept a secret, as an active fisherman coming from a recognised fish landing site and conversing with fellow fishers we were not aware of any research/study being done.
Fishermen were not interviewed nor being asked to take part in any surveys as part of the study. No data were collected from the fishermen as to the amount of fish now being caught vs. the amount caught say six months ago, fishers were not asked for their reasons why the catches were declining, etc. So Dear Editor, we the fishers want to know how the study was done if fishers were not involved? Who were the research persons conducting the study and what are their qualifications? And most importantly, where can the documents that made up the study be found. In the meanwhile, fishers continue to suffer from low catches despite now being the peak of the fishing season. Are the fishing areas being over fished, is it the noise and pollution from emerging oil and gas exploration and extraction contributing to the low catches, is it as our leaders say the effects of climate change on the sea water or is it a combination of all these factors. More ought to be done by the relevant stakeholders as to bring some semblance of clarity as to why are the catches declining in Guyana and we do hope that this letter catches their attention. Fishermen/women may be uneducated but are not stupid.

Yours sincerely,

A concerned fisher

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