Fishing sector adopts technology to improve surveillance monitoring at sea

Guyana’s fishing sector has undergone massive changes with the implementation of technology to monitor fishing boats, a progression that has made surveillance simpler.

Randy Bumbury, a Fisheries Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture on Wednesday said the ministry has adopted the Vessel Monitoring system to improve the sector.

In 2024, the ministry procured artisanal vessel monitoring devices aimed at enhancing the security of fishing activities within Guyana’s borders. The devices were procured from Latitude Geospatial Consulting Inc. and Pelagic Data Systems.

“As usual, its normally licensed, we currently have 150 vessels that have been equipped with tracking devices, we have another 100 that will be equipped with more tracking devices, there we utilise the Pelagic Data Services for that particular management,” Bumbury said.

In accordance with the Fisheries Act, vessels must be licensed annually.

“We have 28 vessels licensed for this particular period and all the vessels have onboard a vessel monitoring device,” Bumbury said.

He said the ministry will further incorporate the electronic single window to improve its systems. Drones are also being used by the ministry for coastal surveillance enforcement.

Additionally, Bumbury said that there has been a low up-take of women and youths in fishing but the sector remains strong with marine production maintaining its ability to meet market demands for fish, despite a ban on exporting catfish to the United States market and low catches due to climate change.

But according to Bumbury, there are still untapped areas for the sector.

“Guyana has extensive small levels of corals that can be found further out, fishers have been bringing up small or medium sized lobsters which demonstrates that there is a different potential out there,” he said.

He said research partners can assist the ministry with data to implement strategic approaches to fishing. He said the country hasn’t met its “full potential of what fisheries in Guyana can be”.