Lamin N. Ceesay Reg. No.

:230102164

Fish Population Dynamics, Stock Assessment, and Ecosystem Management

NOVEMBER 8, 2023

Dr. Msukwa
Introduction

The fisheries and aquaculture sector in The Gambia is under the management of the Ministry of
Fisheries and Water Resources (mofwr). They are tasked by the government of The Gambia to
be responsible for the management, development, and conservation of fishery resources. The
department’s mandates are to conserve and assess fish stock; collect data on fisheries and
aquaculture; manage and develop fisheries and aquaculture; prepare and review fishery
management and development; monitor, control, and surveillance fishing operations; promote
the establishment of fisheries centers; and promote scientific research and development of
technologies to support the management and conservation of fisheries and aquaculture.
Furthermore, the ministry promotes the development of artisanal fisheries; control the issuance,
suspension, and cancellation of licenses; and finally develops local and foreign markets for fish
and fishery products (mofwr, n.d.). The main objective of the ministry is to conserve, manage
and develop fisheries resources vis-à-vis food security and poverty reduction, as enshrined in the
national development plans.

Although the fisheries sector is said to be the third largest food sector after agriculture and
livestock, it is the largest source of animal protein in the diet of most Gambians (Wabnitz et al.,
2023). Furthermore, the fisheries sector is said to have contributed 6.2% to the national gross
domestic product (GDP) in 2018 compared to 2% in 2014. With that having been said, it is
necessary for the government of The Gambia through the Ministry of Fisheries and Water
Resources to come up with good management strategies and objectives for better conservation
and management of the fisheries resources. To be in the forefront of the country’s development
blueprints the Fisheries Department takes the lead from the National Development Plan (NDP)
of The Gambia 2018-2021. The National Development Plan’s major outcome areas for the
fisheries sector include the following.

 Enhanced Institutional Efficiency and Effectiveness for the Fisheries Sector and
 Improved Value Chains for Fisheries and Aquaculture Transformation.

The objectives of the fisheries management sector are highlighted below along with their
strategies (policy area).
 The Objectives of Fisheries Management in The Gambia

The current 2018 national fisheries policy objectives were drafted from the Fisheries Act 2007
document, which underwent a series of reviews and consultations. The summary of the act
includes the conservation, management, sustainable utilization and development of fisheries and
aquaculture in the waters and in the territory of The Gambia and for matters connected there to
(FAO, 2023). The Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources
are armed with the power and responsibility to administer the act.

The objectives of fisheries management in The Gambia are described in the table below.

1. To effect a rational and sustainable utilization of the marine and inland fisheries resources
and develop aquaculture.
2. To use fish to increase food security and livelihoods in rural areas and improve the
nutritional standards of the population.
3. To increase employment opportunities and participation of Gambians, especially women
and young men, in all aspects and at all levels of the fisheries sector.
4. To increase net foreign exchange earnings.
5. To improve the institutional capacity and legal framework for the management of the
fisheries sector for sound decision-making in the fisheries sector.
6. To develop aquaculture.
7. Improving institutional linkages with other relevant sectors.
8. Strengthening regional and international collaboration in the sustainable exploitation,
management, and conservation of shared stocks and shared water bodies, promoting
biodiversity maintenance and enhancement, and preventing environmental degradation.
 The Strategies to Achieve the Objectives of Fishery Management in The Gambia

The policy strategies (policy areas) for achieving the objectives of fishery management in The
Gambia are discussed below. There are eleven of these policy strategies that the Department of
Fisheries of the Gambia have identified to achieve the policy objectives.

1. Conservation and Sustainable Resource Use

The main aim of this policy strategy is to ensure that the ecological systems from which
sustainable fisheries and aquaculture yield are obtained are healthy. Furthermore, promoting
equitable resource allocation at all levels of the sector to enhance social stability is crucial.
(Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, 2018).

2. Sustainable Marine Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) Management

To avoid the overexploitation of fish stock, it is important to setup the SSF to ensure the
restoration of certain targeted species such as the Bonga Shad, Sardinella spp. and other
important stocks to control potential fish food insecurity especially for the vulnerable
populations. This can be achieved by mainstreaming small-scale fisheries in the formal economy
and recognizing their contribution to poverty alleviation, food and nutrition security, and socio-
economic benefits of fishing communities (Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National
Assembly Matters, 2018).

3. Sustainable Aquaculture and Inland Fisheries Development

According to the Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources, and National Assembly Matters
(2018), there are significant constraints on the distribution and unaffordability of fresh fish.
Therefore, it is necessary to develop aquaculture through which fish food and nutrition security
could be improved especially in the inland thus alleviating poverty.
 4. Competitive Fish Trade and Marketing

In accordance with the objective of the trade policy of the Gambia, this aim of this policy
strategy is “to attract investment in the sector as well as improve handling and processing of fish
and fishery products to conform to international standards for improved market access.”

5. Sustainable Industrial Fisheries and Fisheries on the High Seas

Like many West African countries, industrial fisheries in The Gambia is dominated by foreign
owned vessels, with nationals acting as agents and employing limited numbers of Gambians as
unskilled laborers. The primary purpose of this strategy is to ensure the sustainable development
and management of industrial fisheries with the full participation of Gambians. Furthermore, to
develop the capacity of Gambians to fill at least 30% of the skilled labor positions on board
fishing vessels (Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, 2018).

6. Sub-Regional, Regional and International Cooperation

To achieve this strategy, the Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources, and National Assembly
Matters (2018) proposed the following actions:
 Reinforce bilateral, sub-regional, regional, and international cooperation and develop
coordinated mechanisms among RECs, RFBs, and LME-based commissions to ensure
coherence of fisheries policies and aquaculture development and their adoption and
adaptation.
 Strengthen sub-regional, regional, and international cooperation with respect to the
management of fishery resources with reference to shared stocks.
 Formulate and implement national management measures in accordance with the current
principles of sub-regional and international conventions regarding fishery protection,
preservation, exploitation, and utilization.
 7. Human Capital Development in Fisheries and Aquaculture

The Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources, and National Assembly Matters (2018) stated that
there is a reduction in manpower in various specialties to handle the sustainable development of
contemporary capture fisheries and aquaculture in The Gambia Fisheries. For this reason, the
ministry deemed it necessary to develop this strategic plan to address the issue of manpower
shortage in the industry.

8. Food Fish and Nutrition Security

The strategy aims to ensure that fish are available in adequate quantities to guarantee the
sustenance of expanded consumption. To ensure that all people have access to the fish food they
need. In addition, fish should be utilized in forms, sizes and shapes that are nutritiously safe to
meet the dietary needs of the people for healthy life (Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resource and
National Assembly Matters, 2018).

9. Institutional Reform and Inter-Sectoral Linkages

The goal of this strategy is to reform, develop capacity, and equip the Department of Fisheries
with an effective and efficient entity capable of managing contemporary fisheries and
aquaculture in The Gambia. Second, it draws on all available human, institutional, and material
resources of The Gambia in the quest to achieve the goal of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy
of The Gambia (Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resource and National Assembly Matters, 2018).

10. Sport Fishing

With a highly diverse cultural heritage, The Gambia is well known for tourism. “One of the
major tourist attractions is sport fishing which if properly managed will improve contribution to
national wealth” (Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resource and National Assembly Matters, 2018).
Although the Department of State for Tourism is responsible for sports fishing, its activities
should be regulated to ensure that legal and environmentally friendly fishing gear and methods
are used.
 11. Cross-Cutting Issues in the Fisheries and Aquaculture of The Gambia

Improving working conditions and access to resources to unleash the potential of women groups
and youth makes their rightful contribution to resource management and wealth creation. This
policy aims to develop a strategy and action plan for integrating disaster risk management (DRM) and
climate change adaptation (CCA) related to fisheries and aquaculture (Ministry of Fisheries, Water
Resources and National Assembly Matters, 2018).

The key Challenges for Achievement of the Fisheries Management Objectives in The
Gambia

1. No comprehensive and coherent legal or policy framework exists. Policy and strategy
inadequacy to denote fisheries resources as economic resources and establish systems
for full exploitation.
2. Lack of dedicated and deep-water fishing ports, as well as a well-equipped fishing
jetty.
3. Modern production and marketing infrastructure technologies are insufficient to lead to
poor branding, quality control, and packaging.
4. There is insufficient research and data management capacity for effective policy
development and implementation, including innovation and value addition.
5. Non-Gambians dominate the fishing sector, including ownership of fishing vessels and
processing plants.
6. Weak monitoring and enforcement capacity, including territorial water policing.
7. Insufficiently explored and low purchasing power in the domestic market.
8. Inadequate empowerment of women who are the main players in the artisanal fishing
industry
9. Landing of most Gambian fish and processing outside of the country
10. Lack of an autonomous fisheries commission
11. Inadequate financial and human resource capacities, especially in aquaculture.
(Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector Strategy, 2017)
 Strategic Areas that Need Improvement in Fisheries Management in The Gambia

Some of the strategies that need improvement in fisheries management in The Gambia
include:
i. Adequate fish safety management measures should be put in place and implemented to
meet international standards.
ii. The handling of fish and fish products in boxes within the value chain does not meet
international standards and could be a source of contamination. Therefore, a proper
strategy for handling fish and fish products should be implemented.
iii. Ecosystem-based fisheries management approaches, such as biodiversity conservation,
habitat protection, and precautionary approaches, should be implemented to prevent
overexploitation of fish stock and damage to the ecosystem.
iv. Application of strategies that would encourage youth and women’s participation in the
fisheries and aquaculture sector through loan scheming.
v. A quota system is used to avoid overfishing.

Conclusion

The fisheries and aquaculture sector in The Gambia is under the management of the Ministry of
Fisheries and Water Resources (mofwr). The main objective of the ministry is to conserve,
manage, and develop fisheries resources vis-à-vis food security and poverty reduction, as
enshrined in national development plans. The current 2018 national fisheries policy objectives
were drafted from the Fisheries Act 2007 document, which underwent a series of reviews and
consultations. Eleven policy strategies have been put in place to help implement fisheries policy
objectives. However, there are underlying factors that affect the implementation of the policy
objectives, and some strategies need improvement as well.
References
 Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources, (n.d.). Fisheries Department's Mandate.
[online]. Available at: <https://www.mofwr.gm/about-fisheries-department#> [Accessed
29th October2023]

 FAO, (2023). Gambia. Texted by Murekezi,P.. Fisheries and Aquaculture Division

[online]. Rome. [Accessed October 29th 2023].
https//www.fao.org/fishery/en/legalframework/gm/en
 Wabnitz C.C.C., Cutting A., Harper S.J.M., et al. (2023). Gender and Fisheries - The
Republic of The Gambia. Country Fact Sheet. Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance
(ORRAA).
 Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, 2018. Fisheries
and Aquaculture Policy of The Gambia. [pdf]. Available at:
<https://www.mofwr.gm/downloads-file/c165ec84-c1ad-11e9-b2ca-02e599c15748>
[Accessed 29th-30th October 2023].
 Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector Strategy, 2017. Fisheries and Aquaculture sector
Strategy 2017-2021. [pdf] Available at:
<https://www.mofwr.gm/downloads-file/de3cf683-clad-11e9-b2ca-02e599c15748>
[Accessed 29th October 2023].