AS efforts continue to advance Guyana’s fisheries sector, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Guianas, on Wednesday, submitted three manuals to the Ministry of Agriculture as part of efforts to boost local production.

The manuals, Guyana marine fisheries management plan for 2022-2027, brackish water shrimp production training manual and seabob management plan 2022-2027 were developed based on unique data gathered by the FAO and WWF.

During the brief handing over ceremony held at the Ministry’s Regent Street office, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, said the manuals are a result of a collaborative scientific approach to address the issues facing the country’s fishing industry.

“These are very important documents for us, and when we look at the fishing industry, we have to take cognisant of the fact that we have to take a very scientific approach,” Mustapha said.
Guyana, he related, has already seen tremendous growth within the sector over the past year.

“We have seen a steep increase in catches, especially in the seabob industry. We have seen a number of areas… that are very important for us, where we have seen almost 100 per cent catches in the seabob industry, also in the brackish water shrimp industry, we have seen increase from 10,000 kilograms from when we started last year to 90,000 kilograms.” Mustapha said.
The government, he said, has been supporting and will continue to support the industry and its stakeholders.

“I think the future is bright for the fishing sector. We have to continue to support the sector, the government has been investing heavily. Last year alone we expended about $500 million in the fishing industry especially the brackish water shrimp industry,” Minister Mustapha said.

Meanwhile, FAO’s Country Representative to Guyana, Dr. Gillian Smith, highlighted the importance of implementing policies to ensure the sustainability of people’s livelihoods.
“To ensure that people have good livelihoods that take you into the years to come, plans are important; we know that this industry has a lot of potential and it has also begun to show that potential. We are showing that this manual will help to increase and accelerate the implementation that is being seen on the ground,” Dr Smith underscored.

She further committed the FAO’s support in collaborating with the various agencies in Guyana to boost the country’s fishing industry.

Reiterating the importance of the manuals, WWF representative, Aiesha Williams, said that the handing over marks an important partnership to further develop the marine fisheries management plan.

The manuals, she said, highlight several areas of importance for the sustainability of the sector.

“It addresses several areas, gender, climate change, and inclusion in the fisheries sector. It sets out objectives, outcomes, and actions where sustainability, good management, enforcement to ensure that there is a productive sector that really maintains fish stock in a healthy manner,” Williams said.

The ministry also handed over a number of safety equipment to artisanal fisherfolk from around the country to assist with their operations and guarantee their safety while at sea. Some 150 fisherfolk from Regions Two to Six are expected to benefit.