AS it seeks to boost the country’s aquaculture sector and provide assistance to fisherfolk, the Ministry of Agriculture is looking to add 50 more cages to its marine ‘cage culture’ project.

At present, a total of six cages are installed under this project at Capoey, Mainstay, and Mashabo.

According to the ministry, each cage is stocked with tambaqui fingerlings (tambaqui being a large species of freshwater fish).

It was also revealed that site selection and community engagement activities have commenced in several areas across Regions Two, Five, Nine and 10, as plans to replicate this project in these regions are underway.

In 2022, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha announced that Guyana would soon be one step closer to boosting the aquaculture sector with the commencement of its ‘Cage Culture’ initiative that was expected to start in October of that year.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali in 2022) had stated that once established, this project would guarantee fisherfolk close to $8 million annually.

Communities within the hinterland district were also set to benefit from this major intervention.

President Ali had noted that the initiative, will aid in the reduction of operation costs. He said profits gained will meaningfully improve the livelihood of residents throughout the district.

The government on assuming office had announced that it was exploring the possibility of introducing cage culture given the impact of climate change on the global fisheries sector.

With our local fishermen also suffering low catches because of this, it further prompted the government to conceptualise the ‘Cage Culture’ project.

To prepare fishermen for this new development, in 2023 it was disclosed that 30 fisherfolk were expected to undergo training facilitated by China, to further promote the use of cage culture.

Minister Mustapha urged fishers to adapt to new technologies to maintain healthy fishing spaces which will promote a better quality of aquatic foods.

The agriculture minister pointed out, “We can’t continue to do the same thing or want new results with the same kind of activity and the same way we have been doing it from our fore-parents time. We have to change the way we do things now.”

He added, “Gone are the days when you just go out to the seashore and put your seine and expect to catch, four or five baskets of fish.”

The minister highlighted that sustainable fishing is the foundation of maintaining the health of people and fishing spaces, such as oceans and rivers.

Cage culture involves the use of marine cages that are set up in lakes, reservoirs or ponds to confine fish. Further, it allows water to pass freely between the fish and surrounding water resources, maintaining good water quality and removing waste.