By Ivan Cairo
Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent
Email: ivan@caribbeannetnews.com
PARAMARIBO, Suriname; Increasing fuel costs are threatening to shut down fisheries in Suriname completely, with fish and shrimp trawlers kept in docks for over one month now, Prahlad Sewdien, president of the Suriname Seafood Association (SSA) has warned.
He revealed that fishing companies can’t cope with the soaring costs of fuel, while there is also unfair competition in Surinamese waters from fishermen from Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago who allegedly get fuel at a very competitive tariffs from their respective governments.
“While our fishermen are forced to stay home because they can’t pay the fuel cost any longer, our fishing grounds are being plundered by illegal foreign fishermen,” Sewdien told journalists.
In a press release, the SSA has urged the implementation of stiffer controls at sea and fuel subsidies.
Sewdien argues that at least 7,000 jobs are in jeopardy, while 30,000 more people who also depend on fisheries for their daily income soon should look for other jobs if the situation does not improve.
The association noted that the problems started when the fuel costs crossed the break-even point of US$0.40 a litre for diesel. Since 2002 the price for diesel has increased from US$0.15 per litre to a current US$0.80 per litre.
The seafood association is also warning for a looming shortage of fish and shrimp if the situation continues, while exports to Europe, United States, Japan and the Caribbean are also under pressure. Annually Suriname receives approximately US$35 million from fishery exports.
According to Agriculture Minister Kermechend Raghoebarsing, for some time now the government has been discussing the matter with state-owned oil company Staatsolie to devise a mechanism in order for the fishing companies to purchase fuel at lower costs. However no agreement has been reached yet.
Meanwhile, the seafood association is urging for a better implementation of the Vessel Monitoring System, in order for the government to ensure that catches in Surinamese waters are delivered at fish depots in the country.
Poor implementation of this monitoring system allegedly results in practices where fishing companies are selling their catch in other countries. The fishing organization is also calling for a crackdown on illegal fishing by Guyanese and Venezuelan fishermen. |
