By: Mariama Njie
Sub-regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC) and the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) has started a three days Capacity building workshop for Fisheries Inspectors of The Gambia on 18-20 September, 2019 at a local hotel.
Under PESCAO program: ‘Improvement of Regional Fisheries Governance in West Africa, funded by European Union of National Capacity building workshop for Fisheries Inspectors of The Gambia.
The main objective is strengthening of capacities of member states and the permanent secretariat of the SRFC in terms of monitoring, control and surveillance.
Mr. Darrell Sexstone programme manager on behalf of the EU, said the European Union is worried about the depletion of fisheries resource around the world but especially along the coasts of West Africa, that’s why they fund this programme.
He said the improve regional fisheries governance in western Africa project, otherwise known as PESCAO, is a 15 million Euro initiative signed in 2017 Which will end in 2020.
“It supports activities at ECOWAS level, scientific researches in West Africa and surveillance reinforcement in the Sub- Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC) and fishery committee of the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC),”
Mr. Sexstone said the Gambia has a recognised important fisheries stock which is exploited both by artisanal and industrial fleets.
He explained that under the Sub Regional Fisheries Commission rules Gambia is presently responsible for performing, Monitoring, control and Surveillance in its own national waters up to the 200 nautical mile EEZ zone limit in order to support implementation of fisheries conservation and management measures.
He added: “The 20 trainees today have been nominated from the Gambian fisheries inspectors and Navy officer involved in control activities at sea and in port”
“The EU funded PESCAO project seeks to actively support conservation and management of fish stocks in the Gambia’’.
He pointed out that it remains important for the Gambian government to develop competent skilled personnel in the area of monitoring, control and surveillance and to put in place the right logistical support for ‘at sea’ operations.
“The important sea fisheries resource of the Gambia is at risk to depletion which is likely to lead increased food security especially up country, lost revenue for the Gambia, increased conflicts for a rarefying resource as well as a loss of biodiversity’’.
Mrs. Shegella Sarre, representative of the Sub- Regional Fisheries Commission encourages the trainees to give this workshop attention.
According to her, the sub- regional fisheries commission and the European fisheries control Agency work in close collaboration to conduct a training group for fisheries inspectors.