January 2, 2014
Guyana seeks to monitor fishing, shrimping boats
GEORGETOWN, Guyana
Guyana’s government is urging fishing and shrimping trawlers to install electronic systems on their boats or risk losing their license this year.
Fisheries Minister Leslie Ramsammy said Wednesday that the system would help authorities monitor boats and respond to emergencies including pirate attacks.
He said the system would also help officials determine whether boats are complying with rules regarding the number of days they are allowed to fish in one year.
Ramsammy said boat operators that do not install the system will not be relicensed this year.
Guyana’s fishing and shrimping sector generates about US$10 million a year in revenue, with much of the shrimp catch headed to the US and the Caribbean.
AP
