Fisheries Department

Ms. Dawn Maison - Principal Senior Fisheries Officer

Regent & Vlissengen Roads

Georgetown, Guyana, South America
tel: (592) 225-9559 fax: (592) 225-9551 email: guyfish@solutions2000.net

To manage, regulate and promote the sustainable development of the nation's fishery resources for the benefit of the participants in the sector and the national economy.

The Fisheries Department is divided into four (4) basic units and several related projects:

This unit is responsible for ensuring the observance of all legal and administrative requirements by all entities in the Fisheries Sub- Sector and to recommend changes or new regulations when necessary. The unit liaises closely with the Guyana Defence Force and Police Force, Customs and Excise Department, and Harbour Master's Department, and with Regional Fisheries Officers, to whom some of these functions have been delegated.

(i) Statistics - this is concerned with collecting and analysing data and conducting surveys to provide scientific and socio-economic information for policy determination, planning and resource management.

(ii) Resource Assessment - this is concerned with conducting stock assessment research and surveys to obtain resource management information.

(iii) Technology Development - this is concerned with identifying, developing or introducing new and appropriate technologies for harvesting and post harvest (eg. processing) activities.

(iv) Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture - this is concerned with the development and testing of culture systems for local and exotic fish species, as well as monitoring fishing activities in the inland water ways.

The Extension Unit is concerned with the acquisition and dissemination of technical information and inputs within the Sub-sector. It liaises with Regional Fisheries Units in relation to artisanal fishery and aquaculture development. It passes on technical information and obtains feedback by way of demonstrations, seminars, workshops, field visits and exhibitions.

This unit provides the necessary support services for the Technical Units within the Department.

The CARICOM Fisheries Resource Assessment & Management Program (CFRAMP), the Fisheries Technical Assistance Project (FTAP) and the Aquaculture Development programme are the major capital projects undertaken by the Fisheries Department. The Chief Fisheries Officer directs operations of these projects, using staff contracted by the projects and the Fisheries Department staff. These projects are aimed at strengthening the capacity of the department.

A substantial number of vacancies still exist in the approved staff structure. However, the Caricom Fisheries Resource Assessment & Management Program (CFRAMP) has provided staff to function in some of the positions. Three CFRAMP staff and University graduate joined the Department as Fisheries Officers. Project Management for these projects was done by the Programme Administration while activities for these projects were done by departmental staff in the relevant sub-programmes. Staff contracted under CFRAMP functioned as part of the department under the Research and Development sub-programme.

Primarily with CFRAMP assistance, technical staff have been exposed to a number of training workshops/courses to improve capacities within the department. As a result, staff have gained new insight and appreciation for the work of the department seeing beyond the mere collection of data, licencing of vessels and plants and dispensing of complaints by fishermen.