By Landing Colley
Sanyang town has been hit by shortage of fish following the fleeing of over two hundred fishermen to the neighboring town of Batokunku, as one of them was accused of killing Gibril Ceesay on Monday.
There are high fear that situation might lead to hike in fish price if solution[s] are not quickly solicited to the problem, as many of the fishermen are foreign nationals.
President of Sanyang fishing center Farama Jadama told The Voice that “the destruction is too much and it will not only affect fish dealers, but also the villagers and its surrounding because at this moment fishing has stop due to the mass destruction of the boats and fishing materials.”
According to him, the development and structures put in place in order to help the community in operating fishing has been failed due to this problem.
He said the community has engaged the fishery sector in demand of security at the beach but that has not happened until they see themselves in this mess. “Security is always our problem likewise water and fishing materials and this destruction will not only affect Senegalese but also Gambians.”
He urged Gambians and non-Gambians to show respect to one another as well as urged the government to provide them with security as the problems on the beachside are getting too much.
Fatou Marena, a fish dealer, said that this problem has affected their businesses because it has caused a shortage of fish. The problem started since the arrival of the big boats working for the fishmeal factory.
“How the beach was before the problem and now is quite different because almost everything is burnt down to ashes including boats, and other fishing materials. This is so sad because people’s properties are destroyed,” she added.
She also urged the government to take a step citing that this is where they depend to take care of their family.