Consumption use

GUY - Legal Hub - Consumption use - Picture © David Mansell-Moullin

Summary

Domestic wildlife use is regulated under the Wildlife Conservation Management and Sustainable Use Regulations through a licensing system for hunting, trapping, collecting and the commercialization of wildlife. It is not entirely clear to what extent the traditional rights of Amerindians, understood as subsistence rights, fall under the licensing system. Subsistence is not defined in the Amerindian Act or in the wildlife legal framework. Moreover, the regulations do not explicitly exclude subsistence from licensing requirements.

Hunting is regulated through the wildlife recreational licence and the special wildlife licence for sport and scientific purposes, respectively. Trapping is a distinct activity from hunting and is regulated through individual and collective licences. The regulations do not specify whether individual licences concern trapping for subsistence and/or for sale. In contrast, the collective trapping licence for Amerindian villages explicitly states that it is for trapping wildlife for sale. Wildlife trade, including bushmeat trade, is regulated through the wildlife collecting licence and the wildlife commercialization licence. The commercial licence is required for every single place of business that trades in with wild animals (buying/selling), including wild meat, which includes restaurants and small-, medium- and large-scale vendors, among others. The wildlife collecting licence allows the holder to collect wildlife, but the regulations do not specify whether this is for subsistence and/or for sale. The licence is primarily granted to intermediaries (middlemen) who collect wildlife from trappers and hunters. However, the definition of collecting wildlife includes “harvesting” which suggests that other extracting activities may be included. Moreover, according to the regulations, the Minister may exempt Amerindian villages and communities from the provisions regarding wildlife collecting, for subsistence, medicinal or other purposes.  

The Wildlife Conservation and Management Act provides a list of classified species for international trade that refers to CITES Appendices. The Wildlife Conservation, Management and Sustainable Use Regulations also establish a list of protected species for domestic use of wildlife.

In respect to quantitative and geographic limitations, the Wildlife Conservation, Management and Sustainable Use Regulations establish that each type of hunting licence (wildlife trapping, wildlife recreational, and special wildlife licence) may specify the sizes, numbers and species of wildlife to be harvested, as well as authorized areas. However, the legal framework does not provide for a system of quotas for each type of hunting licence according to populations status.  A quota is only provided for under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act for exports.

Regarding hunting methods, the wildlife trapping licence and the wildlife recreational licence shall specify the equipment to be used. The recreational licence shall also specify the prohibited weapons and include a copy of a valid firearm licence (if a firearm is to be used). The Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission (GWCMC) is responsible for publishing the timeframe of the annual closed seasons for hunting, trapping and trade of species of wild fauna.

The Wildlife Conservation and Management Act sets out the powers and responsibilities of the GWCMC regarding wildlife hunting and trade. Regulations also establish offences and sanctions related to these activities, which include fines and imprisonment.

HUNTING AND INLAND FISHING

INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK RELEVANT TO HUNTING AND INLAND FISHING

DISTRIBUTION OF MEAT/FISH GENERATED FROM HUNTING/INLAND FISHING

INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK RELEVANT TO DISTRIBUTION OF MEAT/FISH GENERATED FROM HUNTING/INLAND FISHING