Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Department of Fisheries has seized 197 bags of juvenile fish weighing approximately 19.7 tonnes during a recent surveillance operation targeting illegal fishing activities in The Gambia.
The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, Buba Sanyang, said the fish were intercepted by a multi-agency surveillance team during a routine monitoring exercise.
According to Sanyang, each of the 197 bags weighed about 100 kilograms.
The surveillance team comprises officials from the Department of Fisheries’ Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) unit, representatives of the Brufut Fishing Centre, the Gambia Police Force, the Gambia Navy and Anti-Crime officers.
Crackdown on Illegal Fishing
Sanyang said the operation forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen monitoring, control, and surveillance; improve compliance with fisheries laws and regulations; and promote the sustainable management and conservation of the country’s fisheries resources.
He said the surveillance team regularly monitors fishing activities across the country and came across smugglers transporting the large quantity of juvenile fish during a recent routine exercise.
“Imagine when those juvenile fish return back to the ocean, what impact would that have for us as a country,” Sanyang said, stressing the importance of allowing young fish to grow and reproduce.
He added that surveillance operations provide an opportunity to identify challenges affecting fisheries monitoring and develop practical recommendations for improving future operations.
The objectives of the surveillance, he said, include monitoring compliance with the Fisheries Act and Regulations, detecting and preventing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, inspecting fishing boats, gear and catches, investigating suspected night fishing and promoting sustainable fisheries management and conservation.
Sanyang said his ministry is working to eliminate illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, noting that the capture of juvenile fish violates national fisheries laws and threatens the sustainability of fish stocks.
Environmentalist Welcomes Seizure, Calls for Transparency
Mustapha Manneh a Gambian investigative journalist, environmental and human rights activist, researcher, and consultant
Reacting to the operation, environmental defender and Greenpeace collaborator Mustapha Manneh commended the agencies involved in the seizure but called for greater transparency and accountability over the incident.
“I would like to commend the Department of Fisheries, the Navy, the Police, the Anti-Crime Unit, and representatives of the Brufut Fishing Centre for seizing 197 bags of juvenile fish, reportedly weighing about 19.7 tonnes in total,” Manneh said.
“This is exactly the kind of enforcement action needed in Gambia to protect the already pressured fisheries resources.”
He said juvenile fish must be allowed to grow and reproduce to maintain healthy fish stocks, protect food security, and sustain fisheries livelihoods.
However, Manneh argued that the seizure alone was not sufficient and called on the authorities to provide clear information about what happened after the fish were confiscated.
“We need clear and transparent action. What happened to the 197 bags of fish? Were the fishermen arrested, prosecuted, and fined? Were the fish returned to the sea where appropriate, and was this independently verified?” he asked.
Manneh also questioned how nearly 20 tonnes of juvenile fish could have been caught, landed and transported before being intercepted by the authorities.
He urged the Department of Fisheries to disclose where the fish were seized, the species involved, those responsible, the fishing gear used, and the legal action taken against the suspected offenders.
“We should commend enforcement when it happens, but we must also demand accountability, transparency, and consistent enforcement,” he said.
Boosting Gambian Participation in Fishing
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary Buba Sanyang clarified that the government wants to create greater opportunities for Gambians to participate in the fisheries sector and reduce dependence on foreign fishermen.
He clarified that foreign nationals are not allowed to conduct fishing activities in inland waters and are limited to fishing within coastal waters.
The Permanent Secretary revealed that the ministry is working to procure fiber boats to encourage more Gambians to enter the fishing industry.
He said dependence on foreign fishermen can contribute to fish shortages, particularly when fishermen from neighboring countries travel home for religious celebrations such as Koriteh.
“When they travel to their countries of origin for Koriteh feast, among others, we encounter serious fish shortages in the country, especially around coastal areas, which even leave some fish landing sites understaffed,” Sanyang said.
Manneh said protecting the country’s fisheries should not depend on occasional enforcement operations.
“Protecting our fisheries cannot be about occasional seizures. It must be a continuous system that protects juvenile fish, tackles illegal fishing, regulates fishing effort, and holds offenders accountable, whether they are Gambian or foreign,” he said.
“Our fishery is too important to our food security and livelihoods to be protected only after the damage has already been done,” he added.
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