THE fishing subsector faced significant challenges in the first half of 2019, as reflected in the estimated contraction of 12.2 percent since the invasion of the sargassum weed, which provides a habitat and source of food for many aquatic species, has proven disruptive to fisherfolk across the Caribbean.

This is according to Finance Minister Winston Jordan in his 2019 Mid-Year Report.
A floating mass of seaweed stretching from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico is now the biggest seaweed bloom in the world, according to satellite observations.
The algal explosion in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea could signify a new normal, say US scientists.

In Guyana, the Finance Minister noted that the shrimp subsector has been particularly hard hit by the current invasion, with total shrimp production declining by 36 percent, at the end of the first half of 2019.

While the number of vessels harvesting prawns has fallen to 45 percent of the fleet, in the first half of 2019, Minister Jordon in his report noted that there has been an increase in the vessels targeting red snapper, which has resulted in a 63.3 percent increase in the production of this species at the end of the first half of 2019.

Artisanal fishermen have also realised significant gains, with their catch of finfish growing by 10.8 percent at the end of the first half.

However, the Finance Minister noted that these gains were offset by declines in production in the industrial finfish and tuna categories, which resulted in overall growth in finfish production of 1.4 percent.

The Minister noted that based on the outturn at the half-year, the growth rate for the fishing sector has been revised downwards.