US Embassy To Inaugurate Sustainable Fisheries Project

The United States Embassy, in collaboration with the University of Rhode Island, the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) and the government of The Gambia will formally launch the Gambia-Senegal Sustainable Fisheries Project, being supported by the USAID.

The Gambia-Senegal Sustainable Fisheries Project codenamed 'Pa Nafaa' (a Mandinka word for marine benefit) will be launched today at the Kairaba Beach Hotel.

This five-year project aims to contribute to the profitability and sustainability of fisheries in The Gambia.

The fisheries sector employs more than 200,000 Gambians and contributes 4% to GDP. Over the past years, fish have become the world most extracted wildlife and the largest traded food product globally. Overfishing in marine waters continues to pose threat of depletion and exposes certain species to near extinction, coupled with destruction of ecosystem. These challenges call for bold, swift and sustained partnership to protect and judiciously exploit marine resources without depriving future generation the right to the same resources.

The project was initiated to mitigate the effects of these challenges through integrated approach, while ensuring profitable and sustainable fisheries in The Gambia.