IN the deep sea of Guyana, fishes have been more plentiful since our fishermen do not use the very fine, meshed net which catches even the smallest fish. According to Minister of Agriculture, Dr Leslie Ramsammy: “ Government is not considering granting fishing licences but has a Memorandum of Understanding with a Chinese company to undertake a study of seafood species that can be fished in the country’s deep waters without impacting on local fishermen”.
The fishermen and trawler companies of Guyana are now convinced that this decision by the minister is not a sound one. The Chinese net and operations will lead to a rapid exhaustion of stocks and seafood species, because the ministry cannot monitor the Chinese operation on the deep sea. By using Chinese in preference to our local fishermen and trawlers, we are robbing the future.
However, they will not respect the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), because there will be no police or army patrol boats. They will quickly sort through their catch and throw the smallest dead fish back into the sea. There should be laws if the government wants to proceed with the licensing of the Chinese company, any trawlers or fishers caught with fine mesh nets and endangered species, is subjected to a fine and their nets burned.
Material which is impregnated with toxic substances (pesticides), will also pose a danger to public health and the environment in our waters. Chinese fishers in breach of the law will also face heavy fines-and expelled from Guyana.
In the deep waters where these gillnets are still used, stocks of fish that spawn have declined substantially from fishers crossing into Guyana’s waters, though they run the risk of being arrested and having all their equipment confiscated.
We welcome Chinese and foreign investment and private initiative once they bring employment and many benefits to our people in creating jobs and advancing both workers and the country’s welfare. Do not deny our people that right! A country which depends for its fish supply on external sources is in a vulnerable position. It is incapable of regulating and maintaining fish prices at reasonable levels.
In 1978-1983, the plan covers the areas of fleet development, onshore facilities, including processing plants; marketing and distribution; industrial linkages and research and it takes into account the special needs of small fishermen. Here we are speaking of selling off our fishing assets which were built up by generations of Guyanese labour.

MOHAMED KHAN