The African Confederation of Artisanal Fisheries Fisheries Professional Organisation (CAOPA), Gambian and Senegalese Fishing communities have tasked the Gambian government over the proliferation of fishmeal plants in coastal communities in the country.
At a consultative meeting on fishmeal plants in the Gambia held under the supervision of President and Secretary-General of CAOPA respectively, Gaoussou Gueye and Dawda Foday Saine, CAOPA called on the Gambian government to show restrain over the proliferation of fishmeal plants in the country.
CAOPA emphasized that fishmeal plants have adverse consequences for the environment and coastal communities, which survive on artisanal fishing. Additionally, it was disclosed that fishmeal plants in the Gambia are breaching fisheries agreements signed between Gambia and Senegal governments. “Agreements signed by fishmeal plants with some Senegalese fishers from Saint Louis are not in line with the reciprocal fisheries agreement between Gambia and Senegal,” noted CAOPA
Furthermore, the consultative meeting yielded three key recommendations to solving the rising menace of fishmeal plants in the Gambia. First, it was suggested that Gambian fishers should request fisheries authorities to delegate responsibilities to fishers, the contract between fishmeal plants and Senegalese fisheries should be discontinued and lastly, the setting up of a joint committee for Gambian and Senegalese fishers was accepted by both parties.
