Guyana Seabob Fisheries

One of the main fish products that Guyana exports is seabob (Xiphopenaeus kroyeri), a type of shrimp that is harvested from the Atlantic Ocean. Guyana used to be the main producer of this species in the world, but seabob production in Guyana has experienced a substantial decline in recent years. Latest available data put production in 2021 at 9 165 tonnes, compared to 20 000 tonnes reached in 2017 and 2018 and the peak of 24 800 tonnes in 2012. Lower seabob production reduced the total seafood production in Guyana. In 2021 total production of seafood in the country was 34 400 tonnes, which compares to 54 000 tonnes in 2012 and almost 60 000 tonnes in 2003.

The reasons for this massive decline are manifold, and not really studied in detail. Some experts claim that chemical changes, mainly with regard to the salinity, in Guyana's coastal waters have caused a significant decrease in seabob production. Other experts claim that the oil drilling has caused a decline in seabob production.

Guyana seabob shrimp fishery in the Western Central Atlantic was certified sustainable against the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) fisheries standard on 6 August 2019. This was the first fishery in Guyana to join the MSC programme, which aims to promote responsible fishing practices and protect marine ecosystems.

The certification process was requested by the Guyana Association of Trawler Owners and Seafood Processors (GATOSP) and supported by the Guyana government and WWF-Guianas. The assessment was conducted by an independent conformity assessment body, Vottunarstofan Tun EHF, and evaluated the fishery against three principles: the health of the seabob stock, the impact of the fishery on the marine environment, and the effective management of the fishery.

The certification is valid for five years, until 5 February 2025, and requires the fishery to meet 28 conditions to ensure its continuous improvement and sustainability.

In 2011, Suriname's seabob fishery became the first tropical shrimp fishery in the world to achieve the MSC certification. Thus, the MSC certification of Suriname's seabob started eight years before Guyana's.