By Landing Colley
Shortage of fish has hit one of Gambia’s biggest fish producing town- Tanji a suburb of Serekunda triggering concern among its natives and fish dealers.
The Voice over the weekend visited the town and sounded the reaction of natives of the town and dozens of fisher dealers, in which Lamin Bojang, chairman of the truck fresh fish supply association, lamented over the situation saying it has taken a while and is causing challenges to the people.
“The shortage of fish is as a result of fishermen transferring to [Kafuntin] in southern region of Cassamance which led to the shortage of fish, and the reason why the fishermen migrated to Kafuntin in Cassamance region is because fish are closer to that area, and it also helps them to save their fuel,” he said.
According to him, other reason to the situation is as a result of fishermen arriving on shore at night while others go to Gunjur, Kartong and Kafuntin to market their fish.
However, Mr Bojang expressed high sense of hope that the fish shortage would be resolved in the near future while urged the collectors of dues from the fishing boats to help clean the beach for a healthy purpose.
For Nyima Dampha, a fish dealer expressed concern over the high cost of fish from fishermen’s, adding that “the fish are getting expensive” due to the shortage of fish. She said a basket of a fish cost “about 700 to 800 dalasi ‘saying “this is making the market worst for them as retailers.
She called on the government to come to their aid and help find a solution to the situation saying women are facing a lot of hardship and that “if they can get help from the government anyhow as the business is getting difficult everyday and the country is not getting easy.”
Mariama Gassama another fish dealer also expressed concern over the high cost of fish amidst the situation, adding that “fish are getting expensive and even sometime the fish that are being sold to us got rotten before reaching to the market.”
Muhammed Boye a porter also highlighted the challenges they face as porters saying “right now the business is not going as expected because there is a shortage of fish” adding that fishing boats rarely come with fish from fishing nowadays.