The Coast Guard has detained a Venezuelan trawler caught fishing in Guyana’s waters and has confiscated more than 20,000 pounds of seafood.
The ‘Maria Giovanna’, escorted by the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard unit, arrived in Port Georgetown at 8:50 a.m. yesterday with its captain and crew of six. The GDF Public Relations Department said yesterday that a Coast Guard boat, while on a routine patrol on Monday night intercepted the Venezuelan trawler fishing illegally some 29 nautical miles east of the Waini River, Essequibo.Stabroek News understands that seven vessels were spotted fishing, but six of them managed to escape. Only the ‘Maria Giovanna’ was caught while pulling in its net.
Members of the patrol boarded the vessel and a search of the hold revealed 20,000 pounds of mixed fish, two crates of prawns and ten crates of seabob.
The GDF said documents found on board indicated that the boat was registered in Venezuela and was not licenced to fish in Guyana’s waters.
Stabroek News understands that the captain and crew, along with the vessel, were escorted to Morawhanna in the North West District and handed over to the police before being escorted to the city. The catch has been confiscated. The GDF said fishing areas within certain parts of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) are closed during this time of year so as to allow marine stocks to recover.
Recent strategies have been employed by the Government of Guyana for the sustainable management and development of the fishing industry and the Coast Guard has the task of enforcing such initiatives. New fishing legislation consistent with the Law of the Sea Convention has also been tabled in Parliament. Illegal fishing is one area that it deals with.