Minister urges fishermen to install monitoring systems
–if they want to be licensed in 2015

NO fishing vessel will be permitted to operate in 2015 without a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) or a Global Positioning System (GPS), Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has said.This development is in response to the increased incidents of piracy in the fishing industry; the most recent one being the piracy attack in neighbouring Suriname involving Guyanese fishermen.

The VMS is a satellite-based positional tracking method, with devices consisting of a Global Positioning System (GPS) and a satellite data transmitter that provides information on vessel name, location and activity.

“The licence is not a big thing, it is a very small amount of money so I am urging them to do that because that is part of the anti-piracy thing” – Minister of Agriculture

The Agriculture Minister, Saturday last, at a press briefing at Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) head office, Kingston, Georgetown, noted that piracy is a major problem not only for Guyana but the fishing industry around the world, which the United Nations (UN) has identified as one of the biggest challenges for the industry, along with overfishing.
Dr. Ramsammy explained that the Ministry of Agriculture is working with its sister ministry, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Coast Guard of the Guyana Defence Force to implement a more aggressive Anti-Piracy Programme since it is outside the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture. However the issuing of fishing licences remains the responsibility of the Agriculture Ministry.
He mentioned that another challenge being faced is the fishermen’s refusal to abide by procedures put in place by the Coastguard. “When the coastguards go and they see anybody, they got to stop and to know what that person is doing out there because they want to know whether you are legitimately fishing or so and they are going to ask you for a licence and this is the problem… you want them out there but when they come out there you don’t want them. So that’s the challenge,” he said.

ILLEGAL FISHING
The Minister expressed his sympathy to the fishermen, but said that at the same time they should recognise and be appreciative of the help provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and the other stakeholders in the industry.
Not only is fishing without licence a major concern of the ministry, but also the illegal methods engaged in the fishing exercise.
He indicated that the fishermen should decide whether of not they want the coastguards out at the sea or not.
Dr. Ramsammy said: “Do you want the coastguards out there or don’t you want them? Because if you want them for piracy you also have to know that they will check for the other things. When I see a fisherman person out there, if I am a coastguard, I will want to approach him whether or not he is legitimately there or he is up to no good. And that is where the danger comes when you fish with no licence.
“The licence is not a big thing, it is a very small amount of money so I am urging them to do that because that is part of the anti-piracy thing.”

TRACKING SYSTEMS
The Agriculture Minister further said that another move being made to reduce the risk of piracy is the implementation of tracking systems in trawlers and other fishing boats in operation.
According to him, all trawlers as a part of their licensing requirements will need to install a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) before licences are granted. This measure will assist the ministry with the tracking of the vessels and also reduce the allegations of illegal trading.
“The VMS allows us to track them, where they are. It solves a big problem for us because those trawlers that might be tempted, I am not accusing anyone, they might be tempted to get rid of their catch because there are some allegations that big boats come from some place and meet them in the sea and they take some of the fish and go away so Guyana doesn’t get. I don’t know the extent of it, but with the VMS we will know, what they are doing out there,” the Minister explained.
Dr. Ramsammy also acknowledged that the tracking systems will be able to solve the problem of trawlers getting into the path of artisanal fishermen and consequently damaging their fishing equipment.
Out of the 87 trawlers in operation, approximately 50 per cent or more have fulfilled the requirement of installing the VMS in the boats, and by the end of the year it is expected that no boat will be operating without the VMS or the GPS tracking systems.
“One thing for sure, no boat will be operating in 2015 without the VMS. We are urging the artisanal fishermen to also have a GPS system in place. It will be another cost but I think it is worthwhile. In Suriname, you could no longer obtain a licence unless you have a GPS in the boat. And here some fishermen are saying that we are forcing them to have another expense… no fisherman will be allowed in 2015 unless he has a GPS. It will not stop piracy but it will make piracy a little more difficult,” Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said.

(By Sandy Agasen)