FAO and ILO join hands to strengthen Guyana’s artisanal fisheries cooperatives

27 March 2025, Georgetown – A new partnership to improve the professional capacities and working conditions of artisanal fisherfolk, spearheaded by the global fish value chain development program FISH4ACP, was launched today. The partnership will focus on empowering women in artisanal fisheries, and brings together the International Labour Organization (ILO), Guyanese fisheries authorities, cooperatives and informal associations.

“This work will enable cooperatives to benefit from cost savings activities and foster a formal and competitive presence in Guyana and the Caribbean’s seafood markets,” said Janaknauth Panchu, Head of Guyana’s Cooperatives Department in Guyana’s Ministry of Labour.

The Cooperatives Departments works closely with Guyana’s Fisheries department to develop the country’s fisheries sector, ensuring that fishing cooperatives can operate efficiently and sustainably while adhering to each other’s regulations.

The ILO, with over a century of experience in cooperative development, will provide technical expertise to enhance cooperative governance, boost business management skills, and promote sustainable practices of fisheries cooperatives involved. It will also support the creation of new cooperatives.

John Bliek, ILO Specialist in Sustainable Enterprise Development and Job Creation, said: “This partnership has real potential, given the numerous alliances and strong political will, to rebuild Guyana’s cooperative culture with a strong emphasis on sound business practices.”

FISH4ACP, an initiative of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), implemented by FAO with funding from the European Union (EU) and German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), aims to enhance the productivity and competitiveness of the Atlantic seabob fishery of which Guyana is the world's largest producer.

The EU’s Ambassador to Guyana, René van Nes, said: “The EU has a long-standing commitment to supporting sustainable fisheries and the livelihoods of local communities, while ensuring that development is inclusive, equitable, and environmentally responsible. That is why we are working alongside FAO and ILO, the Government of Guyana, local stakeholders to improve the livelihoods of small informal fishermen and strengthen the seabob value chain.”

Guyana has a long history of implementing cooperative governance. Cooperatives were created to empower marginalized groups and manage fishing at a local level, providing vital services like ice, fuel, and administrative support. However, a lack of investment in the past decade has weakened the management, infrastructure, and business capacities of cooperatives. Over the past decade, the number of cooperatives has declined by 20%, with only five official fishing cooperatives remaining today.

Early consultations with the existing cooperatives and informal associations have revealed a keen desire to contribute to the country’s economy and food security, as well as the broader Caribbean community. Fisherfolk, including processors who tend to be women, seek to establish cooperatives that will allow them to secure decent work and livelihoods, as well as demonstrating artisanal fisheries’ contribution to the Caribbean’s food security and nutrition.

Renita Joseph, an artisanal fish processor, said: “This agreement marks a turning point for us. For women like me working in the cottage industry, it means access to training, essential resources, and the opportunity to build sustainable cooperatives.”

“We are committed to ensuring the fair and equitable representation of women throughout the fisheries sector and seafood markets,” said Richard A. Blair, the Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture on the CARICOM Agri-Food System, adding: “We support FlSH4ACP’s efforts to ensure that women work at the centre of our cooperatives.”

“It is not an easy road we are traveling, but it is necessary for a sustainable fishing sector that will enhance livelihoods for everyone,” said Gillian Smith, FAO Representative for Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, underlining FAO’s unwavering support for all partners and organisation involved and the value added they bring to the new partnership.