?but local operators? concerns still not addressedAmid existing concerns of ?depleting? fish resources and no definite word from the government on the Chinese interest in the fishing sector, the Administration is in receipt of a mega US$70M (approx. G$1.4B) proposal by a Chinese company wishing to cash in on the country?s local fishing grounds.On September 24 last year, when Kaieteur News had asked Agriculture Minister Leslie Ramsammy about the Chinese fishing interests, he told the publication that the foreign nationals were in the country assessing the industry, but they had not made any proposal.He said that they were hoping to do so before leaving Guyana. However, a proposal from Chinese company Fuzhou Hongdong Pelagic Fishery Co. Ltd. to the Agriculture Ministry dated September 18, last, shows that the foreigners want 30 fishing licences to conduct ?fishing, cold storage, processing and trade activities.?If approved, the Chinese company will conduct its activities under the Hongfeng (Guyana) Fishery Development Co. Ltd., which will control some 30 fishing vessels and one or two auxiliary vessels. Fishing methods would include drift net, trawl and set net fishing. They plan to construct cold storages, processing plants,[url=http://www.pronhlonline@#$%&/Chicago-Blackhawks-Artem-Anisimov-Jersey/]Artem Anisimov Jersey[/url], ice plants, fuel tanks, fishing port and office building, accommodation and other supporting facilities.At first the Chinese want to conduct testing for the three types of fishing methods which would be no more than one year. The success of the tests will see the full implementation of the project by stages, and the construction of a fishery base.The Chinese told the Ministry that in terms of the establishment of the company and registry of fishing vessels, ?the fishery company will be registered and incorporated by the end of December,[url=http://www.probaseballonline.net/Boston-Red-Sox-Cyber-Monday-Blake-Swihart-Jersey-Black-Friday/]Blake Swihart Red Sox Jersey[/url], 2014… and the Chinese registry of fishing vessel will keep unchanged?.?The operation waters of industrial vessels is beyond 12 nautical miles offshore,? the Chinese proposal indicates. ??in approved fishing method for any fish species, except for species prohibited by the existing laws of Guyana.? These laws, they said, would be observed as any local fisherman.No fish aggregation devices or Turtle Excluder Device will be installed, they said. They say however,[url=http://www.nhl2017.us@#$%&/Detroit-Red-Wings-Sergei-Fedorov-Jersey/]Sergei Fedorov Red Wings Jersey[/url], that vessel monitoring systems (VMS) device will be installed. Sorting, processing, packaging and freezing will be done on the vessel directly or at the fish processing plant.The Chinese also want the freedom to export the processed fish, according to market demand, without limitation.Fishing vessel specifications will be Trawlers long from 36-40m, drift netter and set net vessels from 30-35m,[url=http://www.probaseballonline.net/San-Francisco-Giants-Cyber-Monday-Johnny-Cueto-Jersey-Black-Friday/]Johnny Cueto Giants Jersey[/url], fetching several hundred tonnages with 698-950 and 441-580 kw (horsepower). The auxiliary vessels will be determined according to tests.The size of trawler net mesh will range from 1.5m to 5.5cm. Drift net mesh is around 14cm, while set net mesh, according to the Chinese, will be determined by the country?s regulations.The Chinese say that should Guyana accept their proposal, the country stands to benefit from new fishing techniques and methods and improved fisheries production and processing technologies as well as management.  The project will increase fiscal revenue and foreign exchange income. It will bring job opportunity to locals in the processing plant area.The Chinese have asked the government to coordinate and give preferential tax policies. They seek also tax exemptions on the import of fuel,[url=http://www.baseballgreet@#$%&/St-Louis-Cardinals-Mike-Matheny-Jersey/]St. Louis Cardinals Mike Matheny Jersey[/url], living supplies, repair parts and other operation equipment and construction material that they will be bringing with them.Kaieteur News was unable to get an update on the current status of the fishing proposal when it was sought two days ago.The local fishing community has totally rejected any approval for the Chinese project. When they got wind of a possible Chinese interest in September 2013, members of the Guyana Association of Trawler Owners and Seafood Processors (GATOSP) expressed concern and dismay should the government move to licence the Chinese.They claimed that the project would surely pressure the industry and local operators, since the proposal came during a period when local sea operators were being urged to reduce fleet numbers because of dwindling stocks and a growing need for more protection in the fishing industry.In 2010, they had stated, an overhaul of the industry was suggested with the aim of reducing the number of operating trawlers by January 1,[url=http://www.cheapnfljerseys2017.us@#$%&/NCAA-JERSEYS_TCU-HORNED-FROGS-JERSEY.html]Cheap TCU Horned Frogs Jerseys[/url], 2011. They said it would be a slap in the face if the government were to approve those licences, and a possible strain on especially small local operators who will be unable to match or compete with the advanced Chinese operation.