The
Department of Fisheries with the support of Food and Agriculture Organisation
(FAO) on Wednesday commenced a three-day training for community cooperatives on
fisheries value chain management.
Speaking
at the training underway at NaNA conference hall, director of the Department of
Fisheries, Matarr Bah, said the training was important in the sense that it is
designed to train participants on the best ways to handle fish and fishery
products.
The
training was part of a broader strategy to develop the artisanal fisheries
subsector in The Gambia through capacity building of fisheries stakeholders on
improved fishing techniques, fish handling and processing skills, and quality
control and fish waste management.
Mr
Bah said the training for community cooperatives would enable them to better
manage the fisheries value chain in their various localities to avoid wasteful
post- harvest losses of fish that can result in diminished income generating
capacity of fisher folks.
The
director of fisheries department said fishing and fishery-related activities
are of paramount importance to the economy of The Gambia in the drive to
achieve food self-sufficiency.
He
said the FAO project on the development of the artisanal fisheries in The
Gambia has a main objective to assist the government to enhance the development
of the artisanal fisheries sub-sector and related activities through the
engagement and participation of all stakeholders.
The
project, in summary, is to usher in and improve the level of awareness and
participation of fisher folk in the drive to put in place steps geared towards
the sustainable and equitable exploitation of fisheries resources.
Bah
said the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources has
undertaken steps to reform and initiate a review and update of the Fisheries
Act 2007 and the Fisheries Regulations 2008.
