By: Haruna Kuyateh
Seven days training on sustainable fishing through aqua culture organized by the Department of Fisheries through their Aquaculture Unit for skills enhancement on the importance of aqua culture and its benefits in promoting sustainable fishing and employment creation is underway at Njawara Agricultural Training Centre in North Bank Region.
The training is meant to create a broader understanding of the important of the fish pond and its benefits fishermen, women, and youths. The initiative will contribute to creating employment opportunities and making fish available and affordable.
Momodou Saidyleigh, head of Aqua Culture at the Department of Fisheries highlighted the important of building a human resource base in promoting and popularisation and advocating for individuals and community-based organisations to take up opportunities to attain livelihood.
He disclosed that aqua culture started way back in 1979 and since then the Ministry of Fisheries continued to attach great important to promoting sustainable fishing through aqua culture and adoption of best practices.
It’s evident that there are low level aquaculture activities in the country and expressed the need for more aggressive action towards the attainment of sustainable fishing.
He acknowledged the support from FAO in building standards feed mills at Jahally in Central River Region South and Kuloroin West Coast Region.
Mama Manneh, Executive Director of Njawara Agricultural Training Centre described the training as important, noting that there are huge capacity gaps in the running of aqua culture at grassroots level.
He urged beneficiaries’ participants to be proactive in the transformation of life skill development and ensure that the program would enhance access.
Rotimi Odumsi, from Roma Integrated Farms of Nigeria, stated that they will help people to move away from captive fishing and venture into fish breeding towards the realisation of sustainable fishing.
He noted that aqua culture attracted people locally and internationally and reduces the pressure on sea and river by fishermen.
He called for massive investment in promoting aqua culture, fish according to experts contain high protein and reiterated the need for closer collaboration and networking.
He pointed out that it’s evident that there are low level aqua culture activities in the country and expressed the need for more aggressive action toward the attainment of sustainable fishing.
He acknowledged the support from FAO in building standards feed mills at Jahally in the Central River Region South and Kuloro in West Coast Region.
Ebrima D Kujabi, Kiang Tankular, and Abdlie Jarjue, Foni JakoiSibirick in Foni Bintankarani commended the Department of Fisheries for the training.
