By Makutu Manneh
The Department of Fisheries said Wednesday that authorities had seized 197 bags of juvenile fish during a surveillance operation targeting illegal fishing practices as the government steps up efforts to protect The Gambia’s dwindling fisheries resources.
Buba Sanyang, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources, and National Assembly Matters, said the fish were intercepted from fishermen suspected of attempting to smuggle the catch. Each bag weighed about 100 kilograms, bringing the total seized consignment to approximately 19.7 metric tons.
The operation was carried out by a multi-agency surveillance team comprising officials from the Department of Fisheries and its Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance unit, as well as personnel from the Brufut Fishing Centre, the Gambia Police Force, the Gambia Navy, and anti-crime officers, Mr. Sanyang said.
He said the seizure was part of a broader government effort to strengthen enforcement of fisheries laws and curb illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, commonly known as IUU fishing, which authorities say threatens the sustainability of the country’s marine and inland fisheries.
Surveillance teams periodically patrol fishing areas across the country to inspect vessels, fishing gear, and catches; investigate suspected illegal activities; and ensure compliance with the Fisheries Act and related regulations.
Mr. Sanyang said the harvesting of juvenile fish was particularly damaging because it removes fish from the ecosystem before they have an opportunity to mature and reproduce.
“Imagine when those juvenile fish return back to the ocean; what impact would that have for us as a country?” he said.
He said the latest operation also allowed authorities to identify challenges hampering effective fisheries surveillance and develop recommendations to strengthen future enforcement efforts.
According to Mr. Sanyang, the surveillance program is intended to detect and prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; investigate suspected night fishing; inspect fishing boats and equipment; enforce fisheries regulations; and promote conservation and sustainable management of the country’s fish stocks.
The ministry remains committed to combating IUU fishing, he said, adding that harvesting juvenile fish violates Gambian fisheries laws as well as internationally recognized standards for sustainable fishing.
Mr. Sanyang also addressed the role of foreign fishermen in the industry, saying they are prohibited from fishing in inland waters and are restricted to coastal areas. He said the government was working to procure fibre boats to encourage more Gambians to enter the fishing industry and reduce the country’s dependence on foreign fishermen.
That dependence, he said, has contributed to periodic disruptions in the domestic fish supply. When fishermen from neighboring countries return home for major religious celebrations such as Koriteh, some Gambian landing sites are left with fewer fishermen, contributing to shortages in coastal communities.
The government hopes that increasing Gambian participation in the sector will help stabilize the domestic supply while strengthening enforcement and conservation efforts aimed at protecting fish stocks for the future.
Comments are closed.