ABSTRACT
Efforts to create a marine economy plan have provided an opportunity to examine the existing maritime economy of Guyana. The aim is to determine the priorities and actions that can assist Guyana to grow its national economy in a way that includes good governance, protection and preservation of the marine environment and sustainable development of its maritime resources. Guyana gained significant international attention in 2015 as a new frontier in offshore oil exploration when Exxon announced a massive discovery of oil and gas reserves in its Stabroek Bloc, approximately 120 nautical miles offshore. The development of the marine economy of Guyana is dependent on the protection and preservation of the marine environment, which can only be achieved if all activities are coordinated and managed sustainably. Seabed mining and in particular deep-sea mining can also affect the migratory pattern of marine species.
