[www.inewsguyana.com] – The Environmental Community Health Organization (ECHO) says it is paying careful attention to media reports that Guyanese authorities are contemplating granting license to the Chinese fishing vessels to operate in Guyana’s waters and hopes that such reports were inaccurate.
The body’s concern is that if these reports are true, the contemplated move by the authorities can lead to over fishing – when fish is being caught faster than it is reproduced or replaced.
ECHO in a release said, “The mood and spirit of nations all over the world, is to scale back on the use of natural resources. Globally, there is an urgency to put strict regulations in place to protect biodiversity and the cultural of local communities. In the face of unprecedented environmental events impacting our environment we, in Guyana, must do more to preserve the health of our ecology and protect local communities.”
The Environmental body noted the seriousness of the issue particularly in circumstances where Guyanese continue to hurt the environment by polluting rivers and other water sources through mining activities.
ECHO believes that it would not be in the best interest of Guyana’s natural environment to grant the license to the Chinese.
Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has made it clear that the Chinese will not be given a license to fish near the coast and will also not be allowed to compete with the Guyana Association of Trawler Owners and Seafood Processors (GATOSP).
He was at the time responding to concerns raised by the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA).
The Agriculture Minister explained to iNews that no license has been granted to the Chinese, as a proposal is being developed.
