Guyana is the leading exporter of seabob shrimp globally

Guyana is the leading exporter of seabob shrimp worldwide as the government seeks to increase the productivity and competitiveness of the commodity.

According to a report from the Ministry of Agriculture, the long-term plan is to increase Guyana’s status as a major exporter of Atlantic seabob shrimp, while still ensuring the long-term stability of the stock and enhancing individual wealth in the expanding tourism and oil and gas sectors.

This aligns with the government’s food security agenda as it continues to take the charge in reducing the Caribbean’s high food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

Among the strengths include a well-run, regulated export industry headed by three vertically integrated businesses that have earned marine stewardship council (MSC) accreditation as a sign of their dedication to sustainable business practices, highly effective procedures (from catch to freezing in 20 minutes), a sufficient supply of both skilled and unskilled labour for future growth, and an average annual employment generation for approximately 800 persons, with nearly 40 per cent of those hired being women for processing labour, salaries above the minimum wage; and low staff turnover (almost 50 per cent of employees have been with the company for more than ten years).

This was highlighted in ‘The Seabob value chain in Guyana’ January 2023 summary report.

The 76 licensed trawlers owned by the three largest industrial companies, along with the 11 independently-owned trawlers that they employ, are responsible for 87 per cent of all fishing activity.

Guyana harvests 20,000 tonnes of seabob annually at an estimated value of US $50 million.

Read full report here; https://agriculture.gov.gy/2023/03/26/guyana-is-the-leading-exporter-of-seabob-shrimp-globally/?fbclid=IwAR2gExV4DWXj6FEURaGiXPUpn6yZ8YfwmEcKLdcliXj6ms6BM0_Q0_cdIps