Lifting
of a six-month ban imposed on night fishing in the country has angered fisher
folks at Gunjur fish landing site in Kombo South and other fishing centers, who
raised concern over the decision by the Ministry of Fisheries.
The
ban was imposed on all fish landing sites across the country in June, at a
meeting in Tanji, where agreement was reached by stakeholders in the fisheries
sector to put a ban on night fishing for a six-month period from June 31 to
December 31.
Recently,
a letter of not granted from the Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources
dated 31 November 2019 addressed to one Lamin Sarr, who is alleged to have
written a letter to the ministry requesting for the lift of the ban was
obtained. In the letter, the ministry said it was only the minister who has the
authority to declare a six-month closure on night fishing.
Another
letter from the Department of Fisheries and Water Resources was later
circulated to fishing center management committees in Brufut, Sanyang, Tanji,
Gunjur, Jeshwang, Banjul, Kartong and Siffoe 1 November, giving directives for
the closure of night fishing along the Atlantic from 4 November 2019.
The
letter also stated that the decision to close and open the season for artisanal
fishing lies with the ministry of fisheries and any unilateral decision by any
individual, community or center to lift the closure is grossly unlawful.
Ebrima
Sarr, a boat owner said the decision to lift the ban on night fishing even
before its actual agreed date will hinder their work as fishermen, as it may
lead to post-harvest before coming on shore.
He
alleged that lifting of the ban has the potential to favor the fishmeal
factories who, he said will purchase any type of fish, be it spoil or not while
creating less into the local market as most of the fish catch during night
fishing will be rotten and unsuitable for home consumption.
“How
can fisheries ministry lift a ban on night fishing when it is not yet time to
declare the end of the ban? The agreed ban period was six months, from June to
December,” he said.
He
said the lifting of the ban will affect them as local fishermen, saying the
current period on night fishing remains hot and that will affect every fish
that is catch. “This is not the best time to lift the ban considering the hot
period we are in. The best period to lift it will be December when any fish
catch will be in good state.”
