Dear Editor,
Has anyone asked the fish or fishermen? MARAD notice number 30 (2023) published on February 24 is for 8 months of geotechnical and geophysical surveying in the vicinity of the Demerara Main Ship Channel near Plantation Best and covering 70 square nautical miles. MARAD notice number 31 (2023) published on February 22 is for 5 months of multibeam (sonar) hydrographic surveys in deeper waters also off the estuary of the Demerara River and covering 802 square nautical miles.
The Environmental Protection Agency has an obligation under the EP Act 1996 to require an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for such potential disturbance of the populations of fish on which our fishermen depend and which contribute greatly to the protein in the diet of coastlanders.
The MARAD notices indicate that these surveys have already started, apparently illegally without EPA authorisation and without public consultation. Such activities without authorisation also contradict the aspirations of the Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (Ocean Eco-nomy/Fisheries on pages 33 and 34 of the LCDS). Editor, please stimulate a government response.
Sincerely,
Janette Bulkan
