By Yunus S. Saliu
In a bid to improve the livelihoods of local fishermen, boost domestic fishing activities, and promote sustainable management of fisheries resources, the Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources, and National Assembly Matters, officially handed over 20 artisanal fishing boats and units to various communities and associations across The Gambia on Friday, 2nd January 2025.
The boats and units were received by regional governors and the representative of the Mayor of Banjul during a ceremony held at the Fisheries Jetty in Banjul.
During the handover, on behalf of the Minister of Fisheries,the Permanent Secretary, Buba Sanynang emphasized the significance of these boats and units for the local communities and associations. He explained that to ensure effective utilization and monitoring, the Ministry had engaged government representatives such as the regional governors and mayors, who would then collaborate with local leaders, including chiefs and alkalolous, to pass the equipment on to the communities.
The distribution of the 20 fishing boats was broken down as follows: West Coast Region: Kartong and Gunjur received two 15m boats each, Gunjur Serereh Association received one 15m boat, Sanyang, Tanji, and Brufut each received two 15m boats, and Bintang received one 15m boat.
Banjul: Ndangan (Banjul Kamalo) and Banjul received one 12m boat and one 15m boat, respectively.
North Bank Region: Salikenni, Balingho, and Bambally received one boat of 15m, 12m, and 12m, respectively.
Lower River Region: Kiang Jiroff and Tendaba each received one boat of 12m and 15m, respectively.
Central River Region: Jarreng Mayo received one 12m boat.
Both the Permanent Secretary Buba Sanyang and Musa Sidibeh of Fisheries Department urged the beneficiaries to use the boats responsibly and avoid abandoning them for illegal migration, referring to the “backway” journey as a harmful and undesirable choice.
Governor Lamin Saidykhan of the North Bank Region, speaking on behalf of the regional governors, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Government of The Gambia and the Ministry of Fisheries for the timely support, particularly as the new year began.
He acknowledged that the boats were a crucial intervention to support the local communities and associations and emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing illegal migration, specifically the “backway” syndrome.
Governor Saidykhan further stated that providing such equipment is part of the government’s efforts to engage youth in the country’s economic sectors. “This initiative will not only discourage the dangerous backway migration but will also help provide affordable fish and create sustainable livelihoods for beneficiaries,” he said.
In conclusion, he assured that operational frameworks and monitoring mechanisms were already in place, with fisheries officers working alongside local governance structures to ensure effective use of the resources. Several local representatives and alkalolou also spoke at the ceremony, expressing their gratitude to the Ministry for its ongoing support to the fishing communities.