By: Binta Jaiteh
The National Assembly Member (NAM) for Kiang East, Yaya Gassama, has told the legislature that he had received complaints that Senegalese fishermen were encroaching on River Gambia to steal fish.
The Kiang West legislator gave this report after the Justice Minister tabled the agreement on the protocol to amend the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on behalf of the Minister of Trade, Integration, and Employment.
“I received complaints from our local fishermen thatthe Senegalese fishermen came into our river [River Gambia]to steal our fish resources. All these are happening because we don’t have the means to effectively survey or monitor our sea and river,” NAM Gassama stated.
He opined that the fisheries agreement was long-overdue, considering the difficulties Gambian fishermen were faced with. He highlighted the importance of fishing to the government’s revenue generation efforts through the jobs that it creates.
“Unfortunately for The Gambia, our fisheries sector has a lot of problems and it is controlled by foreign companies that have powerful equipment to exploit our fisheries resources,” NAM Gassama asserted.
Meanwhile, the Kiang West lawmaker pointed out that Gambians have expressed disappointment in the activities of the Chinese in the fishing sector.
“The sector is seriously abused to a point that fish has become a rare commodity to a point that people no longer have the quality or quantity they enjoyed in that industry because we lack the necessary equipment needed for fishing, which is a serious problem,” heremarked.
He pointed out that the foreign vessels operating in Gambia’s territorial waters are damaging the fishing industry, pushing the cost of fish beyond the means of the ordinary people.
In his contribution, the Foni Kansala lawmakerAlmamy Gibba expressed the conviction that the fishing agreement will help regulate issues around unreported and illegal fishing in The Gambia.
“The fisheries sector should not be in darkness but unfortunately it is in darkness because we don’t control our sea, apprehend or charge[offenders] to make sure our waters are controlled,” he lamented.
The agreement has been considered and ratifiedfollowing a passionate parliamentary debate.