Dear Editor,
Reference is made to Meten-Meer-Zorg fishers take licks” (Nov 29), the fishing community has been complaining of declining ocean catch since the early part of this year. Fishermen say that over the last year, after spending days in the ocean, they return virtually empty. The sale of their limited catch cannot cover the cost of their fuel, much less their time and damage to their seine and boat. The entry of the Chinese in Guyana waters and granting of trawler license to the undeserving have hurt the fishermen. That is why several of them are selling their boats and seeking to migrate. They feel they will be better off outside of Guyana, where other governments will appreciate their profession and support them.
The fishermen cannot understand why their catch has dropped so significantly over the last year. Is it coincidental that while Exxon’s exploration and drilling has increased over the last couple years, their catch has decreased? Fishermen and biologists URP spoke with believe that declining catch and fishing income are directly related to the oil industry. Fishermen, fishing companies, and everyone else in the fishing industry, such as wholesale and retail fish sellers, and those employed in fish packaging and fish cleaning should (and must) receive monthly compensation of loss of income. From my readings and what URP was told by scientists and climatologists, as well as Marine biologists, we have learned that the noise from oil and gas drilling chase fish away. So does oil spillage. Drilling activities and movement of tankers as well as other vessels disrupt fishing activities and force most of these fishes to run dozens of miles away from harvest sites. Migratory patterns are rerouted. Fishes avoid Guyana waters. Thus, less fish have been found in Guyana waters, resulting in declining catch by our fishermen.
Also, oil drilling and exposure to hydro-carbons harm reproductive success of marine life. Large swaths of our waters are unavailable to fishermen. This, they can’t make a decent living. There is loss of livelihood. So while the country experiences an increase in income from the oil industry, there is a loss of income by fishermen. The fishing industry has contributed over 5% of GDP over the last several decades. Oil has contributed at best 10% of GDP. The oil industry hired only a hundred Guyanese workers. In contrast, hundreds of jobs are in danger of being lost in the fishing industry as a result of oil drilling. In the long run, the country loses more from oil than it gains in income. Those tied to the fishing industry should be compensated fairly.
Sincerely,
Dr. Vishnu Bandhu
Leader of URP
