VZCZCXRO2436
PP RUEHGR
DE RUEHPO #0219 1442047
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 232047Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0190
RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000219 
 
SIPDIS 
 
WHA/CAR JROSHOLT 
INR FOR BCARHART 
STATE FOR WHA/EPSC AND EB/ESC/IEC/ENR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TABS: EFIS, ECON, EPET, VE, NS 
 
SUBJECT:  DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES TO SEEK FUEL SUBSIDY FOR FISHING 
FLEETS 
 
REF: PARAMARIBO 18 
 
¶1. (U) Summary.  An official from the Department of Fisheries 
confirmed the Suriname Seafood Association's claims that eighty 
percent of the fishing fleets are currently at dock due to high fuel 
prices.  They are working with the fishing industry to request 
financial subsidies from the Ministry of Finance.  The Ministry of 
Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries would like to receive 
Petrocaribe fuel from Venezuela, but there is no Government of 
Suriname consensus.  The fishing industry makes up 0.7 percent (2006 
estimate) of Suriname's GDP and a collapse of the sector could 
affect as many as 37,000 jobs.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) During a May 14 meeting with Muriel Wirdirjo, Acting Deputy 
Director of the Department of Fisheries (DOF), Wirdirjo confirmed to 
Econoff the Suriname Seafood Association's (SSA) claims (made during 
a May 9 press conference) that eighty percent of Suriname's fishing 
fleets are currently at dock due to high fuel costs.  Both 
industrial and small-scale fleets are staying docked because of fuel 
costs, Wirdirjo elaborated.  The company SAIL, NV, which also 
exports shrimp to the United States, had no shrimp trawlers at sea 
and their factory is processing aquaculture shrimp instead, she 
added.  (Note:  In a separate meeting on March 31, SAIL Director 
Errol Mannes told Emboff that the cost of operating one shrimp 
trawler had increased from 45,000 USD per year in 2002 to 202,000 
USD per year in 2008, while the world market price for shrimp had 
remained relatively steady.  End Note.) 
 
¶3. (U) The SSA claimed on May 9 that the remaining twenty percent of 
the fleet at sea had only two weeks of fuel remaining.  Wirdirjo 
said the DOF is aware of the SSA's concern that its 7,000 fishing 
jobs are at risk.  In response, the DOF is working to obtain a fuel 
subsidy, in the form of monetary relief, for the fishing industry. 
The DOF requested all participants of the fishing industry provide 
it with information on the number of boats at sea and the daily 
operational costs of trips by May 23.  The DOF will submit this 
information to the Ministry of Finance in order to negotiate a 
subsidy. 
 
¶4. (U) When asked if the Government of Suriname is considering 
Petrocaribe as an option for easing the fuel crunch, Wirdirjo said 
the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries is 
pushing for that option.  The DOF has also withheld issuing fishing 
licenses to Venezuelan boats this year in hopes the Venezuelan 
fishers would push their government to reduce fuel costs to 
Suriname.  Wirdirjo acknowledged that there is no Government of 
Suriname consensus on whether or not to pursue Petrocaribe fuel. 
 
¶5. (U) Comment.  The export fishing industry makes up 0.7 percent of 
the GDP.  Although the SSA has referred to the 7,000 fisher jobs 
that are at risk, the collapse of the fishing sector could impact 
approximately 37,000 people who find employment in this sector 
either directly or indirectly.  End Comment.