A
five-day training of coastal and marine ecosystems management and co-management
of fisheries resources organised by the West African Association for
Development of Artisanal Fisheries (WADAF) has ended at NaNA conference hall in
Bakau.
The
programme was held to strengthen good governance of fisheries activities within
the professional organisation of artisanal fisheries in the West African
sub-region.
In
an interview with The Point newspaper, the executive director of WADAF, Mouses
Mbengue, said the organisation is established to support seven African
countries involved in fishing such as The Gambia and Sierra Leone.
He
said the recently concluded training was meant to discuss with fishermen issues
relevant to the growth and development of the fishing industry.
Mr
Mbengue disclosed that WADAF has plans to construct a place at Old Jeshwang for
the fish smokers to use in smoking their fishes.
He
further pointed out that out WADAF seven member countries, three Gambians have
been selected to be trained on relevant areas of fisheries and thereafter WADAF
would sign a project in The Gambia that would facilitate the work of those
trained.
WADAF
director called on The Gambia government and the fisheries stakeholders to put
in policies and regulations that would empower the fishing sector and protect
the sea for the growth of the fishing sector.
Abdul
Koroma, national correspondent of WADAF, said the training in The Gambia is the
second phase of such activity conducted by WADAF.
He
said the fishing sector, particularly the artisanal fisheries sub-sector, is
very dynamic hence the need for periodic trainings to keep up with the trends.
