Field notes from Guyana’s coastline: Strengthening cooperatives and securing livelihoods in Guyana’s fisheries sector

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (ILO News) - From the bustling landing sites along Guyana’s coast to quiet riverside communities within the regions of Essequibo and Berbice, the rhythm of life for fisherfolk is tied to the tides. Behind each catch lies a story of resilience, cooperation, and community and it is here that the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have joined forces to make a tangible difference.

This collaboration was launched officially on 27 March 2025 in Georgetown under the FISH4ACP Project, with support from the European Union, Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS). The initiative seeks to promote decent work, gender equality, and food security through more resilient, better-managed cooperatives.

Meeting fishers where they are

From 7 to 9 October 2025, the project team embarked on a three-day field mission across Regions 2, 3, 5 and 6, stopping at key landing sites for the artisanal fisheries sector and bringing the project face-to-face with the realities of coastal fishing life. This was a valuable opportunity to meet the fisherfolk who form the backbone of Guyana’s seabob sector. As ILO Project official Onica Rose shared, “meeting the fishers on their home ground provided a clearer picture of how they work, the challenges they face and the ways in which the project can continue to support them.”

From the docks at Sheet Anchor to the shores of Wakenaam, the mission revealed both the vibrancy and the vulnerability of the sector. Fishers spoke openly about their struggles with inadequate infrastructure and equipment, limited market access, and governance issues within existing cooperatives. Yet, they also expressed deep pride in their craft and shared hopes for better organisation, fairer incomes and more stable livelihoods.

These field engagements were also about building trust. Listening directly to the voices of men and women in the sector reaffirmed the importance of continuous field interaction in cementing the people-centred approach, ensuring that project’s interventions respond to genuine community needs.

Building cooperative strength through learning

The insights gathered from the field were soon translated into action as the ILO-FAO team, working alongside the Cipriani College of Labour and Cooperative Studies (CCLCS) to roll out two weeks of intensive training sessions across Guyana. The first training intervention from 14-17 October 2025 was held in Region 6 catering to five fisher groups including Sheet Anchor Fishing Coop, Albion Landing Site, Rosignol Fishing Coop and Three Door Koker Coop. The second training series took place from October 28-30, targeting informal fisher groups in Wakenaam, Essequibo and Georgetown.

Designed around the cooperative principles of solidarity, democracy, and economic participation, the sessions helped both the formal cooperatives and informal fisher groups strengthen their governance, record-keeping, and financial management skills. Each module was grounded in the everyday realities of fishing life, merging theory with practice.

Cooperative Officers from the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning and Fisheries Officers from the Ministry of Agriculture also accompanied the training programmes. “I would like to commend the ILO and FAO for their ongoing commitment to supporting Guyana’s cooperative sector and for recognizing the vital role of our fisherfolk in ensuring food security and economic resilience,” remarked Janaknauth Panchu, Chief Cooperative Development Officer

Towards decent work and sustainable seas

Together, the field visits and training sessions form part of a broader journey toward inclusive and sustainable fisheries development in Guyana. As the FISH4ACP project continues, the ILO-FAO collaboration is strengthening cooperatives, and their enabling environment, not only as a tool for improving livelihoods, but also as a vehicle for empowering communities, promoting gender equity, and advancing the Decent Work Agenda. The next step within this innovative collaboration will be to work specifically in strengthening the role of women entrepreneurs and networks.