Corentyne fisherman loses over $700K after pirate attack

A Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) fisherman returned to Port on Thursday and reported that a pirate boat took half of his seine and catch, a lost which he said is over $700,000.
It was Thursday morning when Deonarine Permaul of Nigg Village, Corentyne returned to the fishing port at Kilcoy, Corentyne.

He had left the said port 24-hours prior on a fishing venture. It is a norm that he and his crew would spend 24 hours at sea before returning with their catch of snappers and trout.
However, Permaul said during Wednesday night a pirate boat came and cut his seine taking half of his catch. He and his crew of three were fishing in the Atlantic.
His seine was cut in half with the pirates taking the half along with the catch.
He said that the seine is worth $700,000 and the estimated cost of the fish lost is $30,000. The boat was identified as one sold from Mahaica to a Surinamese
Meanwhile, Permaul noted even though he was able to retrieve half of his two-mile-long seine, the remainder is too short to make feasible for him to return to sea.
The three persons who work with him are also being rendered jobless.
Fisherfolk, who operate out of the Kilcoy port said, they have been experiencing dwindling catches. Many of the boats no longer go to sea and have ceased to operate.
At one time there were 70 fishing boats operating from that port, now there are just over 30.
On Thursday one crew returned from sea and only brought one tub of fish – it weighed 93 pounds when put on the scale. After the catch was sold to a vendor, the money could only allow for crew members to get $5000 each after the 24-hour voyage.
It would not be until another two days before they will head back to sea. Additionally, the money received from Thursday’s catch cannot cover fuel and food cost.
The fisherfolks at the port said that it is repeated instances like that that has forced many fishers to cease operations. (G4)