Agriculture Ministry procures vessel monitors for fisherfolk

May 16, 2024 News

Some of the VMDs that will be distributed to fisherfolk across the country

Kaieteur News – The Ministry of Agriculture through its Fisheries Department recently procured 100 Vessel Monitoring Devices (VMDs) as part of its monitoring strategy for artisanal fisheries in Guyana.

This intervention also seeks to improve security standards for fisherfolk while at sea. In a press release the ministry said Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, while offering remarks at a simple handing-over exercise in the ministry’s main boardroom on Wednesday, said that the Fisheries Sector continues to be of utmost importance to the government as it provides affordable protein to Guyanese and contributes to the country’s overall export earnings. He also said that the safety of Guyanese fisherfolk is also important to the government and that investments are being made to ensure they are safe while at sea.

“Many people are of the perception that the average fisherfolk does not want to get involved in technology and the new way of doing things but we have to change that perception. The fishing industry is very important for us in this country. It provides cheap proteins for Guyanese and brings in a lot of revenue. This is why the government has been putting a lot of resources into this industry. These devices will help us to monitor your vessels’ location. While we’ve seen a significant reduction in piracy in our country, we still have to ensure systems are in place to deal with these issues. These devices will also allow us to monitor the fishing grounds you are operating so you won’t be accused of being outside of our grounds because we’ve been seeing that over the last few years,” Minister Mustapha explained.

Minister Mustapha hands over a VMD to a fisherman in the presence of CFO, Denzil Roberts (left) and the owner of LGI, Dr. Haimwant Persaud

Minister Mustapha said that the ministry will continue to work towards ensuring adequate surveillance systems are in place, adding that the goal is to have all registered vessels in Guyana equipped with one of the monitoring devices.

He also said that investments are also being made to enhance facilities where fisherfolk ply their trade across the country.

“Only recently, the President and I visited the Meadow Bank Wharf when it was decided that the entire wharf will be rehabilitated. We’ve also been working with different stakeholders from across the country to improve their lives, but we need your full cooperation to move the process forward. We want to form a partnership. This is why we are working to register all of our fisherfolk and their vessels. It isn’t about collecting revenue. We need to know how many persons are involved in the industry so that we can work to improve their standards,” the Minister added.

The VMDs were procured from Latitude Geospacial Inc. for approximately US $50,000 with additional devices expected to be delivered in the coming months. Installation on vessels in Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Five, and Sixis expected to commence in the coming week

Vessel Monitoring Devices are known to play a pivotal role in ensuring sustainable fishing practices. By equipping Guyana’s artisanal vessels with these devices, the Fisheries Department will be able to monitor fishing activities in real-time, with the hope of minimizing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Furthermore, this intervention will also safeguard Guyana’s marine ecosystems, preserve biodiversity, and sustain fish stocks for future generations. The deployment of Vessel Monitoring Devices will enhance safety at sea for Guyanese Fisherfolk as they provide crucial data on vessel location, enabling prompt response in the case of an emergency. With the unpredictable nature of maritime environments, such measures are indispensable for protecting the lives of our fishermen and ensuring their safe return to shore.

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Agriculture Ministry, fisherfolk, Fisheries Department, monitors, Vessel

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