No licences have been granted to any Chinese company for deep sea fishing although various companies have expressed interest, according to Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy.
“No licence will be granted for open fishing. If given, it will be for specific species,” Ramsammy told Stabroek News yesterday, while noting that there has been one group that has expressed interest and that the ministry has asked for a research proposal.
In November of last year, he had said the government was not considering granting fishing licences but that a Memorandum of Understanding was granted to an unnamed Chinese company to undertake a study of seafood that would allow for fishing that would not impact the local industry.
The minister was at the time responding to concerns expressed by the Guyana Human Rights Association over reports that the government was considering the licensing of Chinese fishing vessels in this country’s waters.
Head of the Fisheries Department, Denzil Roberts, while noting that all foreign licences are dealt with at the minister’s level, echoed Ramsammy’s statements.
“The Fisheries Department and the Ministry of Agriculture have no agreement with Chinese companies for potential licences to be granted,” he explained
