The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have teamed up under the FISH4CAP Project to help Guyana revitalize Fishing Cooperatives in the country and empower artisanal fisher folk.

FISH4ACP is an initiative of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, and is implemented by the FAO with funding from the European Union and German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. It is designed to improve the productivity and competitiveness of the Atlantic Seabob Fishery.

At an Inception Workshop at the Herdmanston Lodge on Friday, FAO Representative, Dr. Gillian Smith said the partnership between the FAO, the ILO, the EU and Guyana’s Fisheries Department, the Ministry of Labour and the Fish Cooperatives, will result in a win-win situation for all.

Dr Smith said the project will increase partnerships among the artisanal fisher folks and provide them much needed support.

“Why? Because we know that when there is collective action taken, that collective action produces better results for everybody. It is a win win situation,” the FAO Representative said.

Dr Smith said here in Guyana, the FISH4ACP Project initially focused on strengthening the Seabob industry, which saw Guyana receiving the Marine Stewardship Council Certification for its seabob industry.

“And this is an important certification because it opens up the Seabob Sector to having better and more lucrative markets. This certification helps to be able to open up markets such as EU market, which places a high value on sustainably sourced seafood. The certification helps to ensure that Guyana’s seabob meets the standards,” Dr Smith explained.

Head of the European Commission in Guyana, Ambassador Rene van Nes, said Guyana remains the world’s most dominant producer of seabob, and the EU stands committed to supporting the livelihood of the small fisherfolk who play an important role in the sustainable development of the industry.

“Sustainability is indeed the red thread of everything that EU does. But sustainability does not mean only environmental concerns. So, yes, when you catch fish or seabob you always have an issue of over fishing, you need to be careful and I am very happy to learn that the programme is paying attention to that. It is part of the programme where you have monitoring mechanisms to make sure that these things are better understood so not only the fishermen of today can catch the seabob but also their children can have the same fruits of the sea,” Ambassador van Nes said.

This component of the project is being launched at a time when just only 5 of the 26 Fishermen Co-operatives are functioning in accordance with the Co-operative Societies Act, according to the Chief Cooperative Officer, Janaknauth Panchu.

He said the other cooperatives have been plagued by poor management and corruption, resulting in some members withholding subscription and landing fees, giving rise to disputes.

He also said the project will help to strengthen fisher folks in Guyana and increase partnerships among them for the betterment of the sector.

Given the existing challenges, the partnerships will focus on improving business acumen of the cooperatives to be a legitimate and transparent business that will contribute to Guyana’s economy as well as the country’s food security and nutrition. The partners will also work together to help cooperatives to meet export and international market requirements that will support the rest of the Caribbean Community.

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