Company history
The Guyanese Seafood Processing Company (S.A COGUMER) was set up in August 2002, in view of participating in the reorganisation of the fishing industry which had suffered from a major crisis period in the late 1990’s
The organisationnal role played by COGUMER S.A in the traditional fishing sector
COGUMER S.A stands out as the main operator for marketing Guyanese traditional fishing produce.
COGUMER S.A is the sole Guyanese processor able to purchase fish from traditional fishing vessels, which ensures the exclusive supply for the whole of the Guyanese coast from Iracoubo to Rémire-Montjoly:
- COGUMER S.A purchases all of its fresh produce from:
- 75 inshore vessels – out of a total of 130 registered traditional fishing units – mainly targeting the acoupa weakfish, the green weakfish, the crucifix catfish and other species caught with a gillnet.
- 19 Venezuelan offshore fishing vessels with European fishing licenses, focusing on the catch of red snapper with bottom-set longlines.
All the fish are systematically eviscerated, washed and then put in ice.
The average fishing time lasts from between 1 to 8 days.
- wild tropical prawns are purchased from 5 trawlers – property of a traditional fleet –calibrating, tunnel freezing (-30°C) in windowed crates and storing in holds takes place on board. The average fishing time lasts for 25 days.
Hence COGUMER S.A, through the regular purchase of traditional fishermen’s produce contributes to sustaining the fishing sector and to maintaining 300 jobs in the Guyanese traditional fishing sector.