FISHERFOLKS from across Guyana were yesterday credited for their contribution towards the aquaculture industry and sustainable food security at a fisherfolk Open Day celebration held at the Guyana Fisheries Limited Wharf at Houston. Highlighting that one of the major challenges facing the industry is piracy, Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud is adamant that more can be done to tackle this scourge.
“We need to see a step-up by the law enforcement agencies. The Minister of Home Affairs has passed an anti-piracy Bill. We need to see the judiciary also involved in ensuring that persons who are brought to the courts are prosecuted”, he said.
In fighting this dilemma, he said the co-operation of those in the fishing sector is needed. “Everyone need to work and look out for each other,” the minister urged.
“I want us to have a sense of optimism, develop a greater sense of unity and community within the fishing sector. Many of the constraints and difficulties that we have can be overcome if we are able to work together, if we are able to share that common purpose”, he said.
Minister Persaud urged, “We cannot have this situation continuing. We cannot have piracy, hijacking, and robbery at sea continuing. We cannot allow a situation whereby anyone is aiding and abetting, whether they try to perverse the course of law enforcement or otherwise. That will not be tolerated”.
Despite  many challenges faced in the fishing sector, Minister Persaud is optimistic that fisherfolks will continue to record progress not only by individual company achievements but also to ensure that progress is recorded by the nation, that is moving to develop a sustainable and viable fishing industry.
Representative of the Inter American Institute  for Co-operation in Agriculture, Ignatius Jean said that fisheries is part of the contribution of food and this contribution is vitally important in terms of nutrition for the people in the country and elsewhere.
Jean noted that Guyana is one of the few countries in the Caribbean that can optimize the use of its 200 nautical miles for its development in fisheries and forms a very important component of that resource.
FAO Representative, Lester Fletcher Paul said the state -of the -world fisheries report have indicated that world fish resource is depleting. Paul congratulated Guyana for making a significant effort to deal with the sustainable management of the fishing industry.
President of the  Guyana Association of Trawlers Owners and Sea Foods Processors, Les Ramalho applauded the work of fisherfolk and noted that, “We are aware of the sacrifices made by fisherfolks in ensuring that Guyana not only has the highest per capita of fish but also we are almost self -sufficient in our sea food needs”.
Ramalho urged Government to consider reviewing or removing the excise taxes for the entire fishing industry. He noted that in doing so it will tremendously push the drive towards sustainability and at the same time level the playing field of other competitors.
Fisheries resources play a significant role in nutrition and food security in Guyana. It also contributes to foreign exchange earnings and is a vital source of animal protein and minerals.
Per capita consumption of fish locally is approximately 57 kilograms which is the highest among CARICOM countries.
According to the Fisheries Department data, the sector contributes approximately 3 percent to the national GDP with a growth of 7.4 percent from 2009 to 2010.
International Fisherfolks Day 2011 is observed under the theme ‘Towards a sustainable Fishing Industry’. (GINA)