Gambia's sole fish expected to gain international recognition

Amadou Saine, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters has said that The Gambia's sole fish will have international recognition as an environmental friendly and sustainable fisheries that will be readily acceptable at foreign markets at best prices.

PS Saine made these statements while delivering his keynote address at the opening ceremony of a two-day forum on co-management of the sole fisheries yesterday at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.

According to him, the principal goal of Ba-Nafaa project is to support the Gambia government in achieving its fisheries management objectives by contributing to the vision of sustainable management of artisanal fisheries and coastal ecosystems. "With particular reference to the sole fisheries, it should be a matter of great interest to all Gambians that the fisheries is very close to being certified for a marine stewardship council," he said, noting that Ba-Nafaa project is assisting the country to get an ecolabel for the sole  fisheries.

PS Saine stated that communities fisheries centres that have been established by the government are being co-managed by fisher folks and communities, local government and government institutions.

Noting that fisheries department has formulated management plan for artisinal fisheries that recognises that management of the fisheries resources should be encompassed by all stakeholders to bring about the conservation and sustainable exploitation and utilisation of the fisheries resources.

For her part, Dr. Kathy Castro of University of Rhode Island commended the participants for their turn out, adding that they are partners in assisting the local communities to realise their dreams in achieving self-food sufficiency.

The occasion was chaired by Mr. Ousman Drammeh.