The Fisheries Department is testing devices to reduce the accidental capture of dolphins in fishing gear as Guyana works to protect its access to the United States seafood market.

Fisheries Department official Randy Bumbury said the devices are designed to discourage dolphins from entering fishing gear. He spoke at the Second Annual Fisheries Research Symposium.

The work is part of Guyana's efforts to meet US requirements aimed at reducing the risk of marine mammals being injured or killed during fishing. Failure to comply could affect seafood exports to that market.

"If you are not comparable, you will not be able to export to the US. And that's an important market for us to maintain," Bumbury said.

The US introduced a rule in 2016, with further notices in 2021. Guyana developed its Marine Mammal Regulations in 2022 and had trained 13 marine mammal observers by 2025.

The department also launched a camera-based electronic monitoring pilot on October 4, with devices installed on 10 artisanal vessels in Regions Two and Five. Artificial intelligence will identify fish species and is expected to improve as more data is collected.

"These cameras will be on artisanal vessels, where we are able to capture data on the catches. So the main purpose of the cameras is just to record the catch that comes in," Bumbury said.

He described the pilot as a significant investment.

"We want to ensure that we are able to not only meet our international commitments, but safeguard our fishers in the process," he said.

The pilot builds on existing measures. All licensed trawlers carry vessel monitoring systems, and trawlers are barred from operating below the eight-fathom line. The department has moved to tablets for data entry, is centralising vessel registration records and is working to link monitoring systems with export data held by the Guyana Revenue Authority. Drones monitor offshore areas that are hard to reach.

The department is also working with the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Wildlife Fund and the University of Guyana on research. A survey of abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear covered about 262 vessels, and its findings are expected to inform policy, alongside a national action plan and shark conservation work.

Bumbury said cooperation from fishers is essential to developing practical policies, and the department wants them to benefit directly from the research.