Grass floating in Berbice River continues to plague fisherfolk

Large portions of floating grass in the Berbice River continue to affect fisherfolk who operate ‘Chinese seines’ [seins to catch smaller fish].
The grass comes from the Canje River and floats into the Berbice River and attaches itself to fishing pens – destroying them in the process.
The grass, which grows from the edges of the Canje River towards the middle, blocks access in some instances.

Contractors are employed by the Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) administration to cut the grass from the shores of the Canje River twice per year in order to keep it clear.
Fisherfolk who operate in the waterway along with other boat owners have been asking for the grass to be cut in smaller portions, which would make it potentially less harmful when it entangles with their seines or wraps around their fishing pens.
The issue, they said, was raised at several levels. In fact, Region Six Chairman David Armogan in June said that Chief Fisheries Officer Denzel Roberts had written to him, asking for the regional administration to meet with the grasscutters.
“He said that they are cutting it too big and they are pulling seines and the pens of the fisherfolks. When the grass is coming sometimes looking like an island, it breaks the pens,” Armogan said.
Armogan had promised to have dialogue with the contractors who are cutting grass in the Canje River.
Armogan had said that a “grass eater” will be arriving in Guyana. The machine chips the grass before putting it back into the water. The machine is also expected to be used in the Canje River.
Meanwhile, also in June, the fishers who operate from Rosignol raised the issue with Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo about the improper disposal of grass which flows out of the Canje River and into the Berbice River, thus affecting their trade.
The Vice President had promised to focus on a long-term solution to the issue.
Some of the fisherfolk say they have been unable to work for the past four months.
Ganesh Mootoo of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), has four fishing boats operating in the Berbice River. He told this publication that the grass continues to affect him.
“When you put down the chase, the grass pulling it down and you can’t get the catch because the chase does provide the fish to run into the seine. Sometimes it also pulls down your pen and also damages your seine.”
Some fishers have reported damages to their seines and losing some of the polls which make the fishing pens.
Mootoo said it could cost between $1.5 million and $2 million to construct a fishing pen.
Meanwhile, Anand Kumar Samaroo noted that he has three fishing pens and it cost him $5000 for each of the sticks to build the pens and he needs to get thirty of them. Additionally, there is the cost to construct the pens.
“For years these complaints have been going to the Minister. Fair enough people live in the Canje River and they have to go and come to do their business but we have to do our business out here too; we depend on fishing work. They clean the grass bad, when it comes into the Berbice River it affects all fishermen, not me alone.  When they damage us out there, we can’t work – is four months now I am not working.”
Samaroo is asking for compensation from the Government for the downtime.
“When the grass come out of the Canje creek; you see how it is big in the water floating, some would pass the pen and some would hold on to the pen and break down the pen and sometimes it tear up the seine.
He said it cost about $200,000 to replace a ‘Chinese seine’.
“My pens damage three times already for this year. As long as this grass is there I will not go and make back the pen and if the seine damage and tear up it can’t be repaired,” he said.
Sometimes, access to the village of Baracara, situated 52 miles up the Canje River, is a nightmare due to heavy vegetation that blocks some sections of the waterway, thus making it almost impossible for boats to traverse. (G4)