The new agreement and its implementing protocol in the field of fisheries and aquaculture include innovations making it possible to rationalise fishing effort, improve income from the activity and strengthen the bilateral partnership by in terms of fishing monitoring, aquaculture, product development, training and fisheries research,” explained the Senegalese Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Economy, Pape Sagna Mbaye.
According to the minister, who signed the agreement with his Gambian counterpart, it took 45 days for experts from both countries to arrive at the protocol.
Under this protocol, underlines Mr. Mbaye, the ‘two States have agreed to reciprocally allocate, at the level of artisanal fishing, 200 licenses for motorized boats with a power less than or equal to 40 HP per year, 25 licenses for motorized boats with a power between 41 and 60 HP per year.
‘Twenty-five licenses for motorised boats with a power greater than 60 HP” are also concerned. For industrial fishing, the agreement “1300 gross registered tonnes (GRT) per year for shrimp trawlers, 1300 GRT per year for fish and coastal cephalopod trawlers.”
The two countries will also reciprocally allocate “1000 GRT per year for deep-sea fish trawlers, 500 GRT per year for coastal pelagic fishing and 15 vessels per year for tuna fishing”, continues the Senegalese minister.
Pape Sagna Mbaye specifies that ‘license fees for vessels and boats fishing within the framework of this Protocol are those set for national fishing vessels and boats of one or the other State”.
Gambians trained thanks to cooperation with Dakar
Pape Sagna Mbaye underlines that the protocol has ramifications within the framework of assistance and partnership between Senegal and The Gambia in the fields of research and coastal surveillance.
According to him, Senegal assists The Gambia in monitoring its maritime waters, particularly in the context of irregular migration.
“We are also in the same dynamic on training,” further informing that Gambians were able to obtain their doctorate in Senegal thanks to cooperation between the two countries.
“Others have now come to join the university to increase their skills in this area”, continued the minister. It indicates that quality human resources [sont] from Senegal to help the Gambian authorities in carrying out sectoral policies.”
Take advantage of the experience and facilities of Senegal
The Gambian Minister for Fisheries, Fisheries Resources and Parliamentary Affairs, Musa Drammeh, welcomed the signing of the memorandum of understanding.
“We are happy to be here to benefit from the experience and facilities of Senegal and benefit from their solidarity.” he said.
He informed that through the protocol, Gambians will have the opportunity to learn in Senegal, saying ‘it will also help us with monitoring of our marine waters and fishing licenses.” he added.
He expressed optimism that with these agreements, The Gambia will be able under the leadership of Senegal, to achieve this.
Pape Sagna Mbaye promised to link Gambian authorities with external contacts in Senegal to learn in the aquaculture sector.
He thus called on Senegalese fishermen to demonstrate citizenship to live better wherever they find themselves.
“I call on our artisanal fishermen to behave like very good citizens on our waters.” he stated, reminding that The Gambia is a sovereign state which has its rules.
“You can live anywhere you are if you have the license to operate in Gambian waters.” he added.
