Audit Urges Fisheries Ministry to Recover D6 Million in Unpaid Factory License Fees

By Fatou Sillah

The National Audit Office has urged the Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources to recover more than 6 million dalasis in unpaid license fees from fish-processing and fishmeal factories, warning that the arrears could result in lost government revenue and an understatement of the country’s financial accounts.

The finding appears in the audit of the Government of The Gambia’s financial statements for the year ended Dec. 31, 2025.

Auditors said 11 fish-processing factories were each required to pay an annual license fee of D25,000. Together, the companies owed D325,000 in unpaid fees.

The audit also identified three fishmeal companies—Golden Lead Import and Export in Gunjur, JXYG Aquatic Products in Kartong and Nessim Fishing and Fishing Processing in Sanyang—that were each required to pay D2 million to the ministry. Auditors said none of the companies had made the required payments, leaving D6 million outstanding.

“The absence of payment of annual license fees by fish processing establishments might lead to loss of revenue,” the audit report said, adding that the shortfall could contribute to an understatement of the government’s financial statements.

The auditors recommended that the ministry recover the outstanding fees and provide evidence of payment for verification.

In its response, ministry management said it had issued reminders to the three fishmeal factories and would refer the matter to the Ministry of Justice if they did not comply by the end of July. The department also said it would write to the fish-processing factories and follow up on payment.

But auditors said that while the ministry provided evidence that demand letters had been sent, it did not show that any of the factories had settled their arrears.

“Therefore, the issue remains unresolved up to the time of finalizing this management letter,” the auditors said.

The fish-processing companies named in the audit include Bluefinn Fish Processing Company in Tanji; Kendaka Food and Fisheries International, The Atlantic Seafood Company, Rosamond Trade, Hansen Seafood Company, and A-Plus Fishing Enterprise in the Saro/Denton Bridge area; International Pelican Seafood Company in Banjul; West Africa Peche Ltd. in Batokunku; Galaxy Fish Enterprise and Blue Finn Fishing Enterprise in Tanji; and KOGAM Fish Processing Enterprise in Kanifing.