A CONSULTATION on fisheries and aquaculture environmental monitoring was held Tuesday last at the Regency Suites Hotel, Hadfield Street, Georgetown. The objective of the consultation was to  highlight activities necessary for  strengthening  the local fishing industry’s contribution to food security  and facilitating increased income-generating activities for fishermen.
The goal was highlighted by  Agricultural Health and Food Specialist of IICA Dr Maxine Parris-Aaron, during the opening of the national consultation which aimed at  capacity-building in  environmental monitoring programmes for achieving good Sanitary and Phyto Sanitary (SPS) standards for the fisheries and aquaculture sectors  in Guyana and other CARIFORUM states.
The SPS project is funded  by the European Union (EU)  with the aim of  supporting the beneficial integration of CARIFORUM states into the world economy and to increase production and trade in agriculture and fisheries in order to meet international standards while protecting plant, animal and human health and life and the environment.
The fisheries component of the SPS project is being implemented by IICA in partnership with  the  Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) the CARICOM Secretariat (CCS) and the SPS Committee of The  Dominican Republic.

During the event,  Dr. Susan Singh-Renton, Deputy Executive Director, CRFM Secretariat, disclosed that follow-up actions will include  implementation of the proposals and recommendations of stakeholders; development and delivery of training programmes; support for relevant short-term and long-term training; and support for strengthening laboratory capacities within the participating CARIFORUM states.
The SPS project was launched in 2013 and is scheduled to end next year.