Políticas

This chapter serves as an introduction to the Suriname fishing industry to get an idea about how the fisheries in Suriname are organized and set up. Specifics to the industry will be discussed in this chapter. Except for certain types of inland fisheries, fishing on Surinamese territory is subject to a licensing system. Based on the fishing areas, type of fishing activity and farming methods, the sector is organized in the following sub sectors (Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, 2008):

• Deep sea fisheries

• Coastal and inland fisheries (also known as artisanal fisheries) • Aquaculture.

After a history and background of the Suriname shrimp fishery follows a general overview. Then each of the sub sectors is briefly described and the chapter ends with a description of the processing industry.

3.2

The Suriname Shrimp Fishery: history and background

In the 1940s and 1950s, large stocks of shrimp were located off the Northeastern coast of South America. This exploration mission was supported by the Caribbean Commission, Surinam Government, and the United States Government (Dragovich, 1981). Power (2003) mentions that the American Company Bumble Bee undertook a series of experimental catches. The results were promising and the decision was taken to commercialize fishing. At that time Surinamese were not familiar with this type of fishing. Surinamese were given the opportunity to learn shrimp trawling as a profession. The lucrative prawn fishing activity was under U.S. administration for decades. With the independence of Suriname on November 25, 1975 this came to an end. Bumble Bee was converted into Suriname American Industries Limited (SAIL). By then Japanese and Korean companies dominated this fishery. To break this hegemony, a Surinamese state owned company was established in the 1970s; the Suriname Shrimp Company (SUGAM). Due to lack of experience and know-how the company did not manage to economically exploit their fleet of trawlers. It was evident that the Japanese and Koreans were better at this. Also in the 1970s, a Surinamese group of investors formed Suriname Japan Fisheries (SUJAFI) together with another Japanese company. A contribution to the influx of

Japanese companies was due to the nationalization program that the French government launched in 1981 with the objective to replace foreign companies with French companies. American and Japanese companies thus redistributed their boats to Suriname and Guyana (Béné, 1997).

3.3

General Overview

Suriname participates in the Unites States marine turtle protection program, by which its shrimp trawl nets must have a device installed for the release of internationally protected marine turtles. This device is called a Turtle Excluding Device (TED). Biennially, Suriname is audited to meet this obligation by the United States. Suriname has always met this requirement and therefore export to the United States is kept open.

To export to the European Union, the exporting companies must meet quality and hygiene requirements. Suriname is on the permanent list of countries exporting to the European Union. Our export market to Europe is open; by January 1, 2010 Suriname had met the requirement of the European Union regarding the traceability of the landings which are destined for the European market. The system was introduced for the purpose of tackling illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing and thus promotes a healthy competition in fishing.

The private sector is organized and represented by the Suriname Seafood Association (SSA) which was founded in 2004. This platform allows the private sector to be involved in the decision making and policy process in order to promote their interests.

3.4

Deep Sea Fisheries

Deep sea fishing is exercised in the maritime area which is bounded from the nominal line of 10 fathoms (1 fathom = 1.829 m) depth within our Exclusive Economic Zone of 200 nautical miles. Within this sub sector, the shrimp catch in terms of export value is primary. Facilities for deep sea fisheries are concentrated in and around Paramaribo. The port facilities are built along the Suriname River. Larger companies such as Suriname American Industries Limited (SAIL), Suriname Japan Fisheries (SUJAFI), Guiana Seafoods, HOLSU (Holland Suriname) and Deep Sea Atlantic have their own port facilities. The port facility CEVIHAS (Central Fisheries Port Suriname) is used mainly by red snapper hand line boats and fish

trawlers. A map of the Surinamese EEZ with fishing area and port facilities can be viewed in appendix H.

3.5

Coastal and Inland Fisheries

Coastal and inland fisheries, also known as artisanal fishing, are carried out in the shallow coastline to about 10 fathoms water depth at sea, the rivers, estuaries and brackish water lagoons. Today this sub sector is not only important for the local fish protein supply, but also for export. Although Suriname nationals have a fishing license, the work is done by a vast majority of Guyanese fishermen. Furthermore, family members participate in this sub sector. While the men go out fishing, the women are mainly active in the processing and marketing (drying, salting, packing and selling fish).

3.6

Aquaculture

Given the increasing demand for fish products, the ever rising fuel prices and favorable growing conditions locally, the promotion of aquaculture is supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries. In April 2004, together with the FAO, the FAO rice-fish culture project was carried out with success. The rice - fish project aims at integrating rice and fish growing. In doing so, the rice crop does not require use of pesticides. Although the rice output may become lower, it is supplemented mainly by growing fish to provide sufficient income for the farmer. The second phase of the project took place in 2005 and was fully implemented by the ministry with the cooperation of 15 selected paddy farmers. In 2008 an evaluation of the rice fish project has shown that rice production was suddenly higher than the usual rice fields without aquaculture if the cultivation method is properly applied. Moreover, there is growing interest among small rice farmers for the adoption of this system in their rice acreage.

Suriname has one aquaculture company, Comfish, which produces brackish water shrimp for export to markets in the United States, European Union and Japan. Another company that previously cultivated shrimp switched to growing tilapia. In December 2008, a positive recommendation was released to Comfish for Global Good Aquaculture Practice (GAP) certification. This means that the company has taken a series of steps to ensure food safety for consumers with their aquaculture product.

3.7

The Processing Industry

Processors handle products of all of the above three mentioned sub sectors. These companies find their own markets. Table 3.1 below provides an overview of processing companies in Suriname.

Table 3-1: Overview of processing companies in Suriname

Category Number of companies

Fish 12

Seabob shrimp 2

Marine shrimp 2

Source: Stichting Viskeuringsinstituut (Fish Inspection Institute)

In total there are 16 processing companies that are export oriented and twelve are on the permanent list of companies that can export to the European Union. The quality of fish and fishery products is monitored by the Fish Inspection Institute. This institute is responsible for the inspection and supervision of the processing companies regarding quality and hygiene. This is a necessary activity to ensure access to (key) export markets.

Chapter IV: Methodology