By Adama Makasuba
The leader of opposition party, Gambia Moral Congress, has renewed his calls for the closure of the Chinese Fish Meal Factory in Gunjur, as the factory is “harming the nation’s environmental and marine ecology.”
Golden Lead-a Chinese-owned factory in Gunjur, has polluted and tainted the environment since its inception in 2016, and thousands of Gambians including environmentalists have been since calling for its closure.
Mai Ahmed Fatty on Tuesday interface call said “The Chinese fish meal factory must be closed. All of us should support the call by the environmentalists and communities of the Kombo coastline.”
He said “the efforts and sacrifice” should be complimented by all Gambians, adding that “the bilateral fisheries agreements must be revised in the national interest or be rescinded.”
“Since Golden Lead was opened in 2016, the nearby lagoon changed colour and its fish and birds started dying. Chinese over fishing in areas reserved for artisanal fishing is harming the nation’s environment and marine ecology, while depriving locals of food and jobs,” he added.
More than 200,000 Gambians are said to depend on local fisheries.
