(Monday 21 October 2019 Issue)
The fish traders in Gunjur Kombo South and other communities have welcomed the decision of Government to halt the planned establishment of new fishmeal factories along coastal villages.
This
has come following the dispatch of letters written to all fishery committees in
the coastal villages including Sanyang, Gunjur, Tujereng, Kartong and Brufut by
the Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources dated on 04 October 2019
explaining the decision of Government to put on hold the planned establishment
of new fishmeal plants on the coastline till further notice. The letter further
stated that the Ministry in partnership with Food and Agriculture Organisation
(FAO) and Dr Fridtjof Nansen are conducting acoustic survey in the sea to
determine the stock level of pelagic fish resources, the same raw materials the
letter stated is used in the fishmeal plants and also consumed by the local
households.
The
Government in the past was alleged by environmentalist of planning to issue
licence for the establishment of other new fishmeal plants along the coastal
communities in addition to the already existing ones.
Adama
Sankareh, a fish dealer in an interview with The Point said the decision by the
Fishery Ministry to suspend the establishment of new fishmeal factories will
greatly increase the level of fish supply in the local market adding that as
most of the fish caught are taken to the fishmeal factories leaving the local
market in scarcity of fish.
He
added that most of the time they have less fish supply from the vessels who he
said always asked them to pay in high price or take their entire supply to the
fishmeal factories.
“The
decisions to halt the establishment of new fishmeal factories along the coast
will greatly help avoid the scarcity of fish in the local market. At times we
will be asked by the boat owners to pay the price that the factory will not even
pay because what they will normally say is that they have already been hired by
the fishmeal plant.” He said.
Sebi
Ndong, a local fishmonger said she at times stays at the beach for a whole day
without having any fish to smoke. This she mentioned because most of the
fishing vessels supplying fish to the fishmeal factories are from Senegal whom
she alleged will only ask for the (CFA) currency in exchange of their catch
fish or with threats of taking the whole supply to the fishmeal factory.
“There
was a day that I did not have a single fish to smoke which is my only source of
finance. The problem we face here is most of fishing boats will take their
supply to the fishmeal factory or ask us to pay in price which the factory is
not even paying them because what they say is that the factory has hired to
supply them with fish.” She stated
