Fisheries Important in Foreign Exchange Generation – PS MOFWR NAM

The permanent secretary at the ministry of water resources and national assembly matters has underscored the importance of the fisheries sector in the country’s quest for socio-economic development, saying, “The fisheries sector plays a vital role in the government’s efforts to reduce poverty, hunger and malnutrition as well as to generating foreign exchange.”
PS Amadou Saine made this remark whilst delivering a keynote address in a two day conclave aimed at integrating fisheries in the Programme for Accelerated Growth and Employment (PAGE) held at the Laico Atlantic hotel in Banjul.
According to him, the meeting came because of international agreements that called for the sustainable management measures be included in the fisheries sector, which will detail an investment framework and will enable a long-term management of the resource.
He adds: “sustainable management of fish resources has an impact on the ecosystem,” saying when demand exceeds available resources, one of the consequences is competition for limited fish stock. “This competition often compels fishers to adopt fishing strategies and methods which put pressure on available stock.”
He commends the Sub-regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC) and its partner --the Internationa Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) -- for what he described as a “fruitful collaboration with the department of fisheries”. “These two institutions have enjoyed a long term cordial and fruitful partnership based on national development interests,” he alluded.
Nfamara Dampha, the director of fisheries in his welcome remarks called on the participants to thoroughly look upon the documents and gives it what it deserves.
He notes that, participants are expected to come with “list of measures favoring sustainable management in the fisheries sector.” He said he also expects a report of a plan of action for 2011 to 2016, which will include the necessary financial resources and monitoring indicators.
Bailleux Renaud, project coordinator ICUN – a project that helps the world find pragmatic solutions to the most pressing environment and development challenges – said his project has been engaged in similar ventures in Senegal and Bissau.
ICUN supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world and brings governments, non-government organizations, United Nations agencies, companies and local communities together to develop and implement policy, laws and best practice.
The project for strengthening regional capacity and fisheries management in West Africa jointly implemented by the SRFC and IUCN aimed to a better access to resources management and a better integration of the fisheries sector in public policies of the member states of the SRFC.