Every year, The Gambia encounters a gross loss of $10,000, approximately D500, 000 from prohibited and illegal fishing within the country’s marine waters. This is mainly caused by the use of prohibited fishing net sizes, says the secretary general, head of the Civil Service and minister of Presidential Affairs.
Hon. Lamin Nyabally said it is quite unfortunate that The Gambia, with all her abundant marine resources and its potential to bring robust development in the country, very few Gambians are exploiting those natural resources.
SG Nyabally was speaking on day-four of President Jammeh’s nationwide agricultural tour at a meeting held in Medina Lamin Kanteh in the Central River Region (CRR) north.
According to him, the use of prohibited net sizes and illegal fishing has been leading to the reduction of the fish population. President Jammeh is always more than ready to support people, particularly young people who are ready to responsibly utilise the marine resources, he told the meeting.
Launched by President Jammeh himself during the 2013 Dialogue with the people tour, the Vision 2016 targets to make The Gambia a food self-sufficient nation by 2016, and to stop the importation of food into the country, thereby encouraging local food consumption.
SG Nyabally went on to remind the gathering that The Gambia is abundantly blessed with natural resources, ranging from the sea to fertile lands and the forest.
For his part, Alhagj Omar Khan, the governor of the region said since the commencement of the Vision 2016 initiative, the rice cultivation that is done in both CRR north and south has surpassed all other years.
He assured The Gambian leader of his region’s unwavering commitment and support to President Jammeh’s initiatives, saying the Vision 2016 initiative targets to withdraw the country from decades of importation and feeding on imported food stuffs.
The chief of Niani District, Pierre Bah, assured that they will always support the President on his target to make Gambia a food self-sufficient nation at all times and the people of Niani will always remain committed to the achievement of the Vision 2016 initiative.
Observer Company Ltd.