By Sariba Manneh & Fatoumatta Gassama
The fishermen at the Bakau fishing station had called on the government of the Gambia through the Ministry of Fishery to help them with proper fishing materials.
They raised this concern to our reporters during their visit to the riverside over the weekend.
Sheikh Tijan Joof, a fisherman said they face many challenges regarding fishing in The Gambia due to high tax and lack of proper ice plan to keep their fish.
“Many people had ventured into fishing business before, but now that there is low profit, couple with high tax, most of them abandoned the business,” He said.
He added that, fish plan is costly and they cannot afford it because the price is high. “You cannot live the fish for about three days because when fish is many we find it difficult to keep them without ice and ice is expensive, too.”
Well before, he said, there used to be an ice plan but now it’s no more functioning.
Alieu faye, also a fish vendor said, it is difficult on their side as fishermen because they don’t usually gain profit from the selling.
Kumba Jobe, a fish vendor lament on the challenges they encounter. “When fish is many, we find it difficult to keep them because we don’t have adequate ice plan.”
She added that if there is a place for them to store their fish that will be of help to them but without one their fish will perished which she said is a lose for them.
She said they have lodged their complaint on the issues to Ministry of Fisheries still nothing is done to change or improve their situation.