Marine scientists from Senegal, the European Union, and the Gambia were this week in Banjul for a five-day meeting to review 2022-2023 fishing activities, update on live bait situation, and discuss ecosystem approaches to fisheries management.

The meeting is crucial for improving marine resources in the sub-region and promoting sustainable fisheries management. The meeting helped to shape policies and impact coastal communities’ livelihoods and marine ecosystems.

The discussions, according to Director of Fisheries Madam Anna Mbenga Cham, focused on a convergence of shared responsibility for the sustainable management of fisheries as well as a convergence of skills and information.

“The approach is not only scientific, but it is also be a collective recognition that cooperative efforts are necessary for sustainable fisheries management,” she stated. In addition to influencing policy, the outcomes of our discussions will directly affect the well-being of our marine ecosystems and the means of subsistence for our coastal populations.

The Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources, and National Assembly Matters’ deputy permanent secretary, Madam Fanta BS Manneh, stated during the formal opening ceremony that such a meeting is essential to the development of marine resources in the subregion.

The government of the Gambia, according to her, is always willing to lend a hand in preserving marine resources. The deputy permanent secretary commended the planners for selecting Banjul as the location of this significant scientific gathering.

The director of fisheries hopes that major progress will be made in guaranteeing the sustainability of fisheries for future generations, given the caliber of the scientists present at the meeting.