By Kemo Kanyi
Gambian Minister of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, Musa Drammeh on Tuesday described the fisheries sector as one of the pillars of the country’s economy, citing its contribution to food security, employment and export earnings.
Speaking at the PROREFISH Gambia Partners’ Forum, organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre, Drammeh said the sector remained central to the livelihoods of thousands of Gambians.
“The sector remains one of the pillars of The Gambia’s economy. It contributes significantly to food and nutrition security, employment, export earnings and household incomes,” he said.
The minister noted that thousands of Gambians depend directly and indirectly on fisheries for their livelihoods, with women playing a key role in fish processing, marketing and value addition.
He said efforts to expand the sector’s economic potential must be accompanied by the sustainable management of marine and inland fisheries resources.
According to Drammeh, the PROREFISH project is supporting that objective by promoting sustainable fisheries management and strengthening the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities.
He said government-led mangrove restoration and reforestation initiatives are helping to improve coastal resilience, conserve biodiversity and protect ecosystems that support fishing communities.
The minister also highlighted the introduction of improved fish processing technologies under the project, saying modern and energy-efficient equipment is helping reduce post-harvest losses, improve product quality and enhance food safety.
He added that the new technologies were reducing health risks associated with traditional fish-smoking methods while improving value addition and increasing the competitiveness of Gambian fish products in domestic and regional markets.
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