Guyana is exploring opportunities to export fish to Caricom markets, including Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Eastern Caribbean. The move comes in response to a local glut in the fish market, which has resulted in fisherfolk struggling to meet their expenses. 

The Minister of Agriculture, Zulifikar Mustapha, discussed this issue with officials at the recent meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). He assured the fisherfolk that the government is committed to not only providing them with the necessary tools to increase their catches but also to finding markets for their produce. 

Chairman of the Guyana National Fisherfolk Organisation, Parmeshwar Jainarine, highlighted the significant decline in fish prices, which has severely impacted the livelihoods of fishermen. 

He emphasized the need to establish more fish processing plants in Guyana to address the current market glut. Currently, the country only has two major processors. 

The fisheries sector contributes to three percent of Guyana’s agriculture gross domestic product (GDP) and accounts for GUY$11.9 billion worth of exports. In 2022, Guyana produced over 33,500 metric tonnes of seafood.