Tanji fishermen, fish vendors bemoan challenges

Fish plays an important role in fighting hunger and malnutrition. Fish is not only a source of proteins and healthy fats, but also a unique source of essential nutrients, including long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, (a major building block of the brain), iodine, vitamin D and calcium.

Given its importance to the human body, its activity is an important economic venture that creates employment opportunity for those in the fishing trade.

Tanji is one of the biggest fish landing sites in The Gambia that hosts different fishing activities.

However, Malang Jammeh, a fisherman who has been in the fishing business for 25 years said he bought his house from fishing activity he does on a daily basis.

Despite being lucrative at times, Jammeh said it also comes with challenges which include illegal fishing trawlers being used by foreigners to fish in our waters.

“The illegal trawlers cut and destroyed my net and also took some of my fish. We are now afraid to go to sea at night because our boats might be attacked by the illegal fish trawlers,’’ he said.

According to him, on rare occasions illegal fish trawler owners pay them damages when they recognize their boat members.

He appealed to The Gambia Government through the minister of Fisheries to help them address some of their challenges.

Camara Sowe, a fish monger at Tanji said they find it difficult to pass when carrying fish from sea to sore as a result of women sitting on their way to sell fish.

Camara added that, strong winds also affect them, noting that, the ropes they use to pull their boats are not strong sometimes and can cause death when an accident happens.

Kaddy Camara, a fish vendor at Tanji said, she feeds her family from selling fish but pointed out she lacks a place to sell her fish sometimes which causes her losses.