The
Gambia will benefit from the second phase of the West African Regional
Fisheries Programme (WARFP) and the expected investment for country from this
programme is US$30 million, the fisheries and water resources minister has
said.
Joseph
Gomez said the money will be used to develop fish landing sites and adding
value to the fisheries products for improved food security and poverty
eradication.
Speaking
at a two-day fisheries stakeholders meeting on 3 and 4 August 2018, the
minister said the fisheries sector was dormant for the past two years.
It
is the responsibility of all fisheries stakeholders to improve the sector and
manage it properly, he said.
“The
new Government of The Gambia will continue to provide support for the
realisation of improved and sustained management and development of the
fisheries sector,” Mr Gomez said.
He
explained that the government, in collaboration with donor partners, will focus
on the principal outcome areas to enhance institutional capacity and
effectiveness in the fisheries sector and improved the value chain for the
fisheries and aquaculture transformation.
The
governments of The Gambia and Senegal have signed a bilateral cooperation in
the field of fisheries and aquaculture and its implementing protocols.
“For
the first time in the agreement, both countries are genuinely willing to
support each other for the effective management and development of both
fisheries sectors,” the minister said.
The
country representative of Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), Dr Perpetua
Kalala, said FAO recognises the government’s commitment to the development of
fisheries and aquaculture for enhanced nutrition and employment creation.
