The Fisheries Department in the Ministry of Agriculture has permitted the first legal harvesting of Arapaima in North Rupununi following the implementation of a management plan and after a count of the giant freshwater fish showed a significant increase from last year.

A licence is currently being processed for the North Rupununi District Develop-ment Board (NRDDB) to harvest 7% of the adult population from December 1 to January 15, 2010, the ministry said in a statement yesterday.

The ministry moved two years ago to officially launch a management plan to ensure that the fish species is harvested in a sustainable manner.

According to the rules only adult fishes are to be harvested and  only when they are not reproducing, the Ministry of Agriculture said.  The plan, it said, intends to help increase the local Arapaima population, im-prove local institutions and increase local fishers’ income.

The management plan includes population counts, devising and sharing an annual harvestable quota.

The fish must be sold through the Executive Fisheries Committee of the North Rupununi to specific markets such as local restaurants and hotels.

The ministry’s decision to permit  harvesting came after the 2009 count showed that 3,062 Arapaima of body length of  one meter and over were counted – 1,617 were juveniles and 1,445  were adults.

World Wildlife Fund, the Rupununi Board and the ministry have since collaborated in the commencement of a vigorous awareness programme which includes erecting sign boards at Ginip landing, Yupukuri and Kwatamang landing.

The awareness  programme will also include the printing and distribution of  posters to  various communities, schools and organizations.

A documentary will also be produced on the importance of the fish.

Further,  the ministry stated that an individual from the district who was sponsored by the ministry and obtained a  Certificate in Fisheries from  the Guyana School of Agriculture will support the management efforts of the executive fisheries committee and the Toshaos of the North Rupununi villages.

Implementing the plan requires a substantial financial base to set up systems of enforcement, monitoring and markets for sale of harvested Arapaima, the ministry has said, adding that with the reports of illegal harvesting of the species the NRDDB is collaborating with the fisheries department and relevant NGOs to curtail the illegalities.

However the ministry has cited the importance of the cooperation of the people of the North Rupununi and proper  management as integral to the plan since not doing so could lead to an eventual decrease of an important food source and income for many residents.

Against this background the Ministry of Agriculture said it would continue to engage its partners in the successful implementation of its management plan.