Several fishermen who use the Hope Canal on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) to dock their boats were on Friday banned from operating at the canal.
Released by the Fisheries Department of the Agriculture Ministry, the notice states that the fishermen have been given until next Thursday to relocate their vessels to the Hope koker.
When Guyana Times visited the area on Friday, the fishermen were up in arms against the move, lamenting that their livelihoods will be affected.
“Them just say that they want the boat to move, that they don’t want fisherman to have access to this channel no more,” a disturbed fisherman related.
Some of the boats which were banned from docking at the Hope Canal
“What happen is that they tell us that we can’t bring we boats here, because they suffering from damages. I can’t see what damages we causing,” another declared.
Concerns were also raised by those who utilise the canal to save their boats from the pounding waves of the Atlantic Ocean that the koker does not possess sufficient space to facilitate all of the fishing boats.
The fishermen contend that it would be impossible to take their boats to the other docking site in such a short period of time, since it would be occupied by other fishermen, who would usually use the koker on a daily basis.
In their pleas for the decision to be reviewed by Government, the fishermen noted that their only reason for utilising the canal is to harbour their boats and save the vessels from incurring losses when out at sea during inclement weather conditions.
Police arresting some of the fishermen
In the past, those whose fishing boats were left in the open ocean suffered major losses, and sometimes their day’s earnings. On Friday afternoon, one boat owner was seen removing an engine from his boat, and tending to the other damages the vessel received after being dealt a severe thrashing from the ocean waves.
“We just use here as a lil rescue. You think (the Guyana) fisheries will come back and compensate anybody for it? They don’t have interest in we! an aggravated fisherman stated.
The fishermen related that when their vessels are left at the koker at night, there is a chance that engines and other parts get stolen, thus persons are forced to spend the entire night watching over their boats.
“One of the boats that we does get here is around $7 million with everything (equipment). When you put it in the channel and it turn over and break up. What will happen to we?” he added.
Meanwhile, at the koker, works were being carried out to remove debris and create a channel for the fishing boats. This, they said, will serve no benefit to them, since all the materials will be swept into the ocean in a few days’ time.
“The koker block up and no boat can’t moor there because the water rough. Now they send an excavator to dig a canal, but majority of the stuff will run back into the channel by end of the week. We know that. So where they expect us to go for harbour?” a member of the crowd highlighted.
During the day, some of the men were taken into custody by the Police for failure to possess a valid fishing licence. They were each subsequently released on $20,000 bail.
However, those who were present stated that, in the past, fishermen were informed of the need to acquire a licence at the cost of $15,000, which would be issued them two weeks after they would have paid for same. They regard this as an unnecessary ways of squeezing monies out of their pockets.
One fisherman related that due to the closure of the sugar estate at which he previously worked, he had no other choice but to join the fishing industry to obtain an income. However, when asked to pay monies unnecessarily, there isn’t much profit. At one point in the past, their profit had been $2000 per day.
“This country [is] getting hard, and everybody just trying to maintain their family. I get two children and just start to work this boat two weeks now,” he explained.
Others also agreed that their livelihoods are being hindered in light of this decision. The men are calling on the relevant authorities to revoke the ban in order for them to continue to ply their trade in the fishing industry.
