A joint operation to curb illegal hunting and fishing has been successful with three hunters held and wild meat confiscated during a river patrol at Burro– Burro, the Ministry of Natural Resources said today.
The release said that the joint operation was conducted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment’s Environmental Protection Agency, Iwokrama, the Fisheries Department and the Guyana Police Force on December 12, 2013 at the mouth of the Burro-Burro River, Iwokrama Rainforest Conservation.
The team’s objective was to observe any fishing and hunting activity and to probe and ascertain if it was commercial. Upon investigation a small aluminum boat was discovered on the right bank of the Burro- Burro River with a small generator powering a small freezer
Further investigation revealed, the release said, a significant quantity of wild meat in the freezer with evidence of powis being cleaned in the immediately vicinity.
The team, subsequently detained three individuals and found several rounds of ammunition which one of the individuals was apparently attempting to hide.
The release said that the police ranks informed the three men that they were hunting illegally for which they would be charged and were accompanied to Kurupukari Police Outpost. Approximately thirteen 13 labbas (~170lbs) and six (6) powis (~30lbs) were found to be in the confiscated freezer.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment says it will continue to collaborate with the various agencies to continue similar operations to protect endangered animals and indigenous communities that depend on hunting for a livelihood. To this effect only last Thursday, the Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Hon. Robert M. Persaud submitted to the National Assembly the Wildlife Import and Export Bill of 2013 to be enforced by the Wildlife Management Authority and signed the Wild Management and Conservation Regulation
This photo shows the boat that was detained.
