By Lamin B. Darboe, Senior Communication Officer, MoFWR
Gambia fisheries surveillance team recently seized 197 bags, about 19.7 tonnes of juvenile fish from suspected smugglers, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Fisheries, Buba Sanyang has revealed.
Mr. Sanyang, the Permanent Secretary at Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters said each bag weighed 100 kilograms, bringing the total quantity of fish seized to approximately 19.7 tonnes.
Speaking about the operation, Sanyang said the surveillance team comprised officials from the Department of Fisheries and its Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) unit, a representative of the Brufut Fishing Centre, the Gambia Police Force, the Gambia Navy and Anti-Crime officers.
He said the recent operation formed part of ongoing efforts by the Department of Fisheries to strengthen monitoring, control and surveillance, promote compliance with fisheries laws and regulations, and ensure the sustainable management and conservation of the country’s fisheries resources.
According to Sanyang, the surveillance team conducts periodic monitoring exercises to inspect fishing activities carried out by fishermen and women across the country.
During a recent routine exercise, he said, the team encountered suspected smugglers in possession of 197 bags of juvenile fish.
“Imagine when those juvenile fish return back to the ocean, what impact would that have for us as a country,” Sanyang said, stressing the importance of protecting juvenile fish stocks to ensure the sustainability of the fisheries sector.
He said the surveillance exercise also provided an opportunity to identify challenges affecting effective fisheries monitoring and to develop practical recommendations for improving future operations.
Sanyang outlined several objectives of the surveillance operations, including monitoring compliance with the Fisheries Act and regulations, detecting and preventing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, inspecting fishing boats, fishing gear and catches, investigating suspected night fishing activities, and promoting sustainable fisheries management and conservation.
He said the Ministry of Fisheries was working to eliminate IUU fishing activities, noting that the capture of juvenile fish was prohibited under Gambian law and contrary to international fisheries management principles.
Sanyang also clarified that foreign nationals are not permitted to engage in fishing activities in the country’s inland waters, although they may operate in designated coastal waters subject to applicable laws and regulations.
“We want to bridge the gap by creating avenues for our own Gambians to come into the sector,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary further disclosed that the ministry was working towards procuring fibre boats to encourage more Gambians to engage in fishing and reduce the dominance of foreign operators in the sector.
He said the presence of foreign fishermen from neighbouring countries sometimes created challenges for fish supply when they returned to their countries of origin during major religious celebrations, including “Koriteh” or Eid prayers.
He said strengthening local participation in the fisheries sector would help improve fish availability and contribute to the country’s food security and economic development.