In an effort to diversify the hinterland economy particularly in the mining regions the environmental programme GENCAPD II is funding three pilot communities to collaborate with fish harvesting specialists at Rockstone and Annai.

Director of the Wildlife Division Alona Sankar hands over the ornamental fish licences to toshao of Rockstone Rance Alicock.

In a press release the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) said the communities: Isseneru, Gunns Strip and Micobie have adopted the brand name Essequarium Traders and they and new applicants will export ornamental fish to Canadian wildlife importers. Only Non-CITES fish species will he exported and harvest results will be communicated to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as mandated in the EPA authorization.

CIDA said the communities have contacted three major ornamental fish importers in British Columbia, Alberta and Montreal. The Canada-funded GENCAPD II is expected to send live samples to the Canadian importers using direct flights to Toronto and Montreal. All subsequent orders from importers will be made via internet at the newly constructed IT facility in Isseneru. A first draft of the website can be viewed at www.essequarium.com
All live specimens will be centralized in the newly built holding station CIDA constructed at Rockstone. More exotic specimens from Gunn’s and Annai will be flown in to Timehri before being conditioned in Rockstone. The release said this new market will allow the communities to expand their revenues and have better control over the export of ornamental fish from Guyana.