Fisheries stakeholders brainstorm on sustainable mgt measures

The permanent secretary at the Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, Amadou Saine, yesterday presided over the opening of a two-day workshop on the definition of sustainable management measures in the fisheries sector for its integration in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP).

The workshop, which drew participants from various sectors in the country, was held at the Atlantic Hotel in Banjul.

In his opening remarks, PS Saine said the fisheries sector plays a vital role in government’s efforts at reducing poverty, hunger and malnutrition as well as at generating foreign exchange.

This fact, he states, is manifested in the high priority accorded  the sector by government in its development agenda. According to him, the sustainable use of the fish resources has an impact on the ecosystem.

He stated that the project for strengthening capacity of fisheries management in West Africa RECARGAO, jointly implemented by the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC), and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) aims to achieve a better access to resources management and a better integration of the fisheries sector in public policies of the member states of the SRFC.

One component of this project involves the integration of fisheries in the Strategic Document for Poverty Reduction (SDPR) Mr Saine said. 

The Fisheries PS said further that The Gambia, like other countries in West Africa, has undertaken and implemented a strategy for poverty reduction called the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), which was re-actualised in 2006 to cover the period 2007 - 2011.

He also told the gathering that given the actual regional context of over-exploitation of the resources and following the international agreements on sustainable development signed by The Gambia, “it is suggested that sustainable management measures be included in the fisheries sector, which will detail an investment framework and will enable a long-term management of the resources”.

He called on stakeholders to critically scrutinise the document and make objective comments that will facilitate the sustainable management of the country’s fisheries resources for future generations.