According to the Caribbean News, the Ministry of Agriculture said that this is the first time in recent years Guyana has been re-certified without inspection teams visiting Guyana’s facilities.
The news agency reports that increased monitoring efforts of the Fisheries Department, Ministry of Agriculture, and the Guyana Association of Private Trawler Owners and Seafood Processors, led to Guyana being re-certified to export shrimp to the US without an inspection team revisiting Guyana.
The shrimp industry is of great importance to Guyana, constituting 50 percent of Guyana’s fishery export earnings valued at approximately US$25 million. The most important market for seabob is the United States of America to which 89.6 percent of exports were directed in 2007.
To access this market, Guyana must comply with the relevant US law, which states that only shrimp harvested in ways that are not harmful to certain endangered species of marine turtle can be imported.
Guyana to Export Shrimp to US
GUYANA - Guyana has been re-certified to export shrimp to the United States without the presence of inspection teams. The move is expected to become effective as of May 1.