Explaining role of fisheries…
UNITED Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Country Representative in Guyana, Dr. Lystra Fletcher-Paul said, Tuesday, that the fisheries and aquaculture sector will continue to play an important role in nutrition, the fight against hunger and poverty and, more generally, in economic development. She made the observation at the first ever National Fisher Folk Convention, in the International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, where issues affecting and actions required to move the sector forward were discussed.
Fletcher-Paul pointed out that, as the demand for fish and by-products continues to grow; there will also be increased need for effective management and conservation of fisheries and aquaculture resources to ensure the biodiversity, health and productivity of the supporting ecosystems.
“This is called for by the code of conduct for responsible fisheries,” she said, noting that fisheries and aquaculture are the primary source of protein and income for some 520 million people worldwide.
Fletcher-Paul said it is estimated that fish provides approximately three billion people with at least 15 per cent of their average per capita animal protein intake and, for another 400 million of the poorest people in the world, half or more of their animal protein and dietary minerals.
“Trade in fish and fish products generate benefits from the point of capture to the final consumer,” she informed.
Fletcher-Paul said fish and fish products are important sources of food and income through production and fish trade.
She quoted from the 2008 ‘State of the World Fisheries and Aquaculture Report’ which indicated that fisheries and aquaculture supplied the world with approximately 110 million tons of fish food in 2006.
In Guyana, Fletcher-Paul reported, the fisheries sector contributes between two and three per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the estimated per capita annual consumption of fish is about 59 kilogrammes.
SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION
“These statistics attest to the fact that fisher folk make a significant contribution to the agricultural sector and to the health and well-being of the Guyanese people,” she emphasised.
Looking at the Caribbean, Fletcher-Paul said a number of challenges are likely to affect the fisheries and aquaculture sector, among them the impact of climate change, including the frequency of natural disasters, rising fuel prices, fuel dependency and consumption and production input costs; the emergence of animal diseases in aquaculture and the general deterioration of the marine environment and in inland waters.
“The risks can be aggravated by external threats,” she warned, citing them as the impacts of other sectors, such as pollution, poor or unsustainable management of coastal and riverine areas and land and water resources; coastal area activities like tourism, industrial development, spill-offs and population migration, alternative and conflicting uses of coastal areas and/or inland and marine water resources and rapid increases in the price of inputs, such as fuel and animal feed.
On a more positive note, Fletcher-Paul said the challenges also present opportunities.
“For example, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has decimated the fishing industry of the affected areas but it also presents an opportunity for increased production and exports for Guyanese fish, shrimp and other value-added fish products,”
she posited.
Fletcher-Paul said the lessons learnt from that disaster also afford fisher folk an opportunity to develop early warning, mitigation and emergency response strategies so that they are able to respond quickly to disasters.
“There are opportunities for you to produce your own inputs, using local materials. Opportunities also exist for you to act now to institutionalise good fisheries governance to ensure that the resources are sustainably managed,” she said.
Fletcher-Paul said an important component of good governance is the availability of reliable data and information on the status and trends in fisheries and aquaculture for use as a sound basis for policy and decision-making, management and planning.
“In particular, artisanal fishing and small scale aquaculture, which are often under-represented or completely ignored in official statistics, should be included in all data collection efforts,” she stated.
TRUE PARTICIPATION
Fletcher-Paul said partnerships are quintessential to the success of initiatives aimed at advancement and explained that they cannot be undertaken by government alone and must be done in partnership not only with development agencies, such as FAO, but also with true participation of the beneficiaries, the fisher folk of Guyana.
Fletcher-Paul explained that, for fisher folk, such partnership is an opportunity to take ownership and work along with the Government and other development partners to improve the fisheries and aquaculture sub-sector and improve livelihoods.
“Fisher folk have a significant role to play in the face of the ever increasing food import bill in the Caribbean, as well as in the face of new and emerging challenges resulting from climate change and natural and man made disasters and other threats.
“To undertake that role, fisher folk must be willing to embrace and adopt new technologies, to think creatively and work together,” she maintained.
Fletcher-Paul said the sustainability of fisheries livelihood is completely dependant on the sustainable use of the resource, which lies with increasing the knowledge and understanding of the fishers about the marine and inland water resources and by their participation in the management of them.
“Already some international markets are increasing demand for products from sustainable, well managed fisheries. Both fishers and administrations should prepare themselves for the new opportunities for economic and environmental sustainability that these markets have to offer.  Quality over quantity for the same economic benefit is possible,” she said.
Fletcher-Paul urged the responsible, safe and sustainable use, as well as conservation of fish and inland water resources, so that there is enough left for future generations.
She also pledged FAO assistance for future endeavours, explaining: “We see the fisheries and aquaculture sub-sector as an important component of food security.”