By: Binta Jaiteh
Scores of fishermen and vendors at Tanji market have raised concern over the high exchange rate of CFA franc against the Dalasi and shortage of fish in The Gambia.
Reacting to the issue some vendors expressed their displeasure. Musa Manneh, a fish vendor said “We have a lot of challenges with regards to the high cost of CFA. We buy fish and transport it to Basse to sell. Senegalese fishermen who come with the CFA, previously what we normally buy D1900 or D1100 that has been increased drastically. This is because the rate of dalasi has declined against the CFA. That is a big challenge to us. They don’t feel it because they will still get profit out of it. The poor Gambians here will find it difficult to manage he stressed.
He added that it will be difficult to buy fish with high costs and sell it at a low price, stressing that will result in a loss to them. He said, “The situation is beyond us. Everyone is managing to survive. I am telling you that it has been three days now, I could not buy fish due to price hikes. The Senegalese fishermen are the ones buying to transport the fish to Senegal.”
Janko Marong, noted a lot of people are no longer fishing, and the demand is very high. This has contributed to the challenging fish situation in the country.
Mbaye Nyang, a Senegalese fishermen queried that gas oil in the Gambia is very expansive, which is why boat owners are finding it difficult to reduce the price of fish, alleging that fishing trollers are not helping the site.
Fatou Sowe said, “We don’t have a fixed place to sell. We sell around the river, but officials harass us always. The vendors are tired, especially women. It is through this business that we feed our families, pay school fees, and others. The government should assist us she pleaded.
