Fisherfolk and seafood vendors in Region Two are appealing for urgent financial assistance and a public awareness campaign to counter misinformation, as demand for fish continues to decline following the MV Barima disaster on July 18.
The appeal was made during a special meeting on Tuesday at the Regional State House Boardroom, where scores of fishermen and vendors voiced concerns over the economic hardship facing the fishing industry.
Deputy Chief Fisheries Officer Jagnarine Narine, Fisheries Officer Sophia Raghunandan and Regional Democratic Councillor Melrose Henry attended the meeting.
Narine addressed food safety concerns, assuring participants that seafood harvested from Guyana’s waters remains safe for consumption, and urged reliance on scientific information rather than misinformation circulating on social media.
Fishermen said false artificial intelligence-generated messages, graphics and videos circulating online have damaged public confidence in seafood. Sanjay Persaud, a fisherman with more than 20 years of experience, said the misleading information has devastated livelihoods in the industry.
“People are seeing these fake AI images and messages and believing them. It is causing fear, and our fish are not selling,” Persaud said.
One fisherman said he had purchased more than 11,000 pounds of fish shortly before the tragedy but has been unable to sell his stock, forcing him to buy ice daily to preserve it as costs continue to rise.
Vendors echoed similar concerns, saying they invested heavily in seafood that consumers are now unwilling to purchase. Many fishermen rejected claims that the seafood is contaminated, noting that ocean currents are constantly moving.
Diana Basdeo called on the Food and Agriculture Organization and relevant agencies to launch a public education campaign to restore consumer confidence and combat misinformation.
Fishermen also said they were disappointed with suggestions that they seek alternative employment, noting that fishing is the only trade many of them have known.
Participants appealed for a temporary financial grant to offset losses until demand returns, while others suggested a bulk purchasing programme in which government could buy and store fish to stabilise the market.
The Fisheries Department reaffirmed its commitment to standing with the fishing community, pledging to continue engaging fisherfolk while providing accurate, science-based information to support the industry’s recovery.
