Amendments to Fisheries and Aquaculture Laws to Boost Food Security Agenda

The Ministry of Agriculture's Fisheries Department is partnering with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme to organize a two-day event to validate the Proposed Regulatory Changes to the Fisheries Act (2002) and the Aquaculture Framework Bill. The event, taking place at the Herdmanston Lodge in Georgetown, is being hailed as an important step towards advancing the government's food security agenda, according to Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, who made the announcement on Tuesday. The proposals to improve our aquaculture system will be discussed over the next two days to ensure compliance with regulations for inland fisheries and aquaculture. Currently, national legislation only addresses marine fishing and not inland fisheries, which is a significant issue as the agriculture sector is rapidly evolving. The review conducted has led to the initiation of a proposal for changes to the aquaculture system. Minister Mustapha mentioned that the Attorney General's Chambers will incorporate the proposed changes arising from the workshop. The Cabinet has created a sub-committee to examine the various aspects of modifying the legislation. The proposed amendments are designed to create a comprehensive and robust legal framework for sustainable development. The draft documents have been developed from stakeholder engagement in Regions One to Six and Nine, with support from the FAO and SWM. Inland fisheries may not contribute as much to the economy as marine fisheries, but their regulation is essential in preventing overfishing, illegal and unregulated fishing, and safeguarding species such as the Arapaima, sport fishes, and other food fish species. A co-management strategy will be the primary approach used to implement the proposed changes. It is important for the Fisheries Department and SWM to develop a draft National Co-management plan and regulations to promote community participation in the form of co-management committees, co-management areas, and community fishing ranges. The implementation of this co-management plan and regulation will begin in the North Rupununi, Region Nine. The SWM programme is an international initiative aimed at improving wildlife conservation and food security, with implementation led by the Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission and SEAFORE.

Source(Image: NY Times , News: Department of Public Information)

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12 Apr 2023 15:45 | by anaraine