Rosignol fishermen decry improper disposal of grass

− fishing gear being damaged after becoming entangled

Fishermen from Rosignol, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), are complaining about the improper disposal of grass which flows out of the Canje River and into the Berbice River, thus affecting their trade.
Several fishermen have vented their frustration, claiming that the grass when cut is left to flow in the river. As a result, the weed becomes entangled with their fishing gear, resulting in severe damages.
One of the fishermen, Sherriff Ali Omar, related that he has been a fisherman for 30 years and would use the Chinese seines to catch fish. The grass, he said, has been obstructing and causing some heavy damages to the seines.
“…dis grass ah cut, right, this grass ah affect abe every year… abe ah mek report all to the fishery officer dem, all who ah come and keep meeting and suh and dem nah do nothing,” the man related.

Abdu Kadir, another local fisherman who has been in the business for over 42 years, stated that the grass has damaged all of his chase pens, some of which he recently bought.
He further stated that most times, instead of working, they have to remove the grass trapped in their seines. As such, he questioned systems that are in place for fishermen when compared to the other agriculture sectors.
Anand Kumar Samwaroo related that he would have spoken with Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, along with other officials at the “fisherman day” event on the issue but nothing has been done to address the situation.
“Me is a Rosignol fisherman for over 30 years and me doing fishing wuk me whole lifetime. Fishing work is what me depend on and my whole family. This grass, year go, year come this grass a run. Me report to all dem Minister because when me go fisherman day me report to all the Minister them who in charge of the fishing department.

Me talk to the Minister this fisherman day he tell me he gone look in this matter again and all Minister wuh me talk to a tell me about look into this matter and nobody never look into the matter,” Samwaroo stated.
Additionally, he said that the grass has been destroying not only his but several other fishermen’s pens, one of which costs about $60,000.
He further stated that Government is assisting everyone and he hopes that he and his colleagues are given the same treatment.

Only last month, while observing Fisherfolk Day under the theme “Promoting Social Responsibility to Safeguard Fisheries Resources and Livelihoods” at the Georgetown Cricket Club grounds, President of the Guyana Association of Trawler Owners and Seafood Processors, Reuben Charles had related that these are serious times and changes have been and have to be made in order to keep the industry alive.
He had stated that the Association, unlike the sugar and rice industries, receive little to no aid from the Government.
However, in responding to Charles, Minister Mustapha had stated that there are processes and procedures that need to be followed in order to access Governmental aid, and moving forward letters for aid should be addressed to the Ministers directly so that there can be swift actions in providing the necessary assistance.