By Binta Jaiteh
President Adama Barrow has said that his government is actively reviewing its fishing license regime to increase protection for artisanal fishers and ensure fair and sustainable management of the country’s fisheries resources.President Barrow was speaking on Thursday at the National Assembly in Banjul as he delivered the State of Nation Address in accordance with section 77(1) of the Constitution.
The address provides an update on government administration’s performance during the 2023 calendar year with a focus on government policies, programmes, legislative frameworks, and plans for the future.
Mr. Barrow described the fisheries sector as another productive sector that contributes to the economy.
“Due to several factors, however, the total revenue collected from the fisheries sector decreased from one hundred and thirty-one million, five hundred and ninety-five thousand, two hundred and sixty-nine Dalasis (GMD131,595,269) in 2022 to one hundred and ten million, eight hundred and two thousand, nine hundred and twelve Dalasis (GMD110,802,912) in 2023, representing a decrease of twenty million, seven hundred and ninety-two thousand, three hundred and fifty-seven Dalasis (GMD20,792,357) or about 15.8%,” he stated.
According to the Gambian leader, the Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources, and National Assembly Matters has initiated the construction of 20 fishing boats with fishing equipment to enhance the livelihood of the youth and women and reduce illegal migration, adding that the Ministry is constructing fish ponds in Kuloro, through a funding partnership with the EU, to boost fish production.
He pointed out that the US$25M Climate Resilient Fishery Initiative for the Livelihood Improvement Project, funded by the Green Climate Fund, aims to conserve and protect fisheries resources while strengthening the climate resilience of fishing communities.
“To minimise post-harvest losses and promote the hygiene and quality of fish products, during the period under review, the Ministry built two fish landing platforms in Gunjur and Tanji and constructed access roads linking these sites to markets,” he explained.
He enthused that The Gambia has made significant strides in improving equitable access to safe drinking water with 90% of the population provided with better water sources in 2023, up from 86% in 2010.
“I must observe, however, that the figure stands at 83% in the rural area. Additional efforts are needed to bridge the gap by increasing access to safe drinking water in our rural communities,” he stated.
The President noted that last year, the governmentimplemented a mini-borehole drilling project with a budget of GMD10M from the Government’s Local Fund. “Fifteen communities now have access to safe and high-quality drinking water through the project. In collaboration with the African Development Bank Group and Japan, my government targets to install 130 large solar-powered piped-water systems to benefit 162 communities and an estimated 280,000 people. To this end, 20 boreholes were inaugurated in December 2023, 55 are being installed, and the remaining 55 will be completed in 2025. My Government will not relent in sustaining these efforts.” The President remarked.