Guyana developing suite of services to better manage coastal ecosystem – Minister Trotman

“In Guyana, the marine resources in our coastal waters and exclusive economic zone are an important component of our economy and provide  livelihoods to mainly artisanal Fishers.

Artisanal fishing is important to our economy as 80 percent of the catch is exported. In order to ensure the sustainability of these resources, regulations have been introduced to limit fishing by trawlers to only a certain number of days each year and to require the installation of by-catch reduction devices and turtle exclusion devices on all trawlers.

Monitoring and surveillance of artisanal vessels are also being increased to ensure compliance and to reduce the incidence of illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing activity…

I wish to share with you at this time that oil production from recently discovered off shore deposits is imminent in Guyana. Conscious of our responsibility, an environmental impact study has been carried out to examine potential risks to marine life and coastal livelihoods, especially of local artisanal Fishers, in the event of oil spills.”

Guyana’s Minister of Natural Resources Mr. Raphael Trotman addressing the Plenary at the UN Oceans Conference at UN Headquarters, New York, 5 – 9 June, 2017.

See Minister’s presentation  –  VIDEO