Gambia's aquaculture prospects looks promising #gambia

The director of Fisheries Department has averred that the
country's aquaculture prospects look promising due to the
readily available markets (local, regional, and international)
produce.
Nfamara Dampha recently made these remarks in Basse,
Upper River Region (URR) while making a power point
presentation during a two-day sensitisation forum on
illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing practices and
preservation of biological resources for communities in the
region.
The event was organised by the Network of
Parliamentarians and Locally Elected Representatives
(APPEL).
He said The Gambia is blessed with three types of waters -
marine, fresh and brackish waters - noting that these can
support a wide range of cultivation. The Gambia's good
location, he said made it possible for fish exportation by
airplane, ship or lorry. He added that there is also the
availability of relatively pollution-free aquatic environment,
high tidal amplitude (1 meter), and availability of cheap
labour in the country.
"The Fisheries Department has concluded an MoU with
Department of Youth and Sports with a view to
incorporating youth involvement in aquaculture. The
Department of Fisheries, through the advice of the Ministry
has established a special committee comprising the
Department, the National Youth Service Sheme (NYSS) and
the Ministry of Youth and Sports," he revealed.
Dampha further explained: "The Gambia's territorial sea
extends to 12 nautical miles with an Exclusive Economic
Zone (EEZ) of 200 miles. The coastline, from Bunaidu to
Kartong, the last bordered village with Senegal on the south
bank is approximately 70 km long. The country claims a
total maritime area of 4000Km and 10,500Km of continental
shelf."
He said statistics have shown that the country has marine,
brackish and fresh water with 155 landing sites, 500 rine
and inland fish species, 1410 head fishermen, 4694 other
fishermen, 3096 Gambians and 1598 foreigners, 1702
canoes (625 motorised and 1082 un-motorised).
He told the locals that Fisheries Department and its line
ministry are responsible for the management of the
fisheries resources and the enforcement of the Fisheries Act
and Regulation, as well as fisheries development, both
artisanal and industrial among others.
On the opportunities in fish production and marketing,
Dampha enlightened that the sector comprises mainly two
sub-sectors: the industrial and the artisanal. "The activities
of industrial fisheries involve use of fishing trawlers as well
as fish processing plants/ factories both of which are
expensive and demand high operational costs in terms of
fuel and other logistics," he said.
The artisanal fisheries, the director further explained,
comprise a population of traditional fishermen in the
coastal and inland fishing villages. "They produce 60% of
the total national landings. The artisanal fisheries sub-
sector is contributing greatly towards the country's
fisheries development policy in improving food security as
well as provision of employment and income generation," he
concluded.