5 Percent Fisheries Sector Contribute to Gambia's GDP: The Vice President and Minister of Women affairs, Aja Isatou Njie Saidy has noted that the fisheries sector contributes 5% to the Gambia's GDP. She made this remark at the opening of the 18th Ordinary Session of the Conference of Ministers of the Sub Regional Fisheries Commission held on Thursday 16th December2010 at the Laico Atlantic Hotel in Banjul.
Vice President Njie Saidy said the government of The Gambia will spare no efforts to attain a higher contribution in accordance with the Vision 2020 and the PRSP 11 blueprints.
She noted that women fish exporters contribute significantly to the huge increase of fishing. She said the important and pivotal role of women in the fishing sector through out the sub region presents the same as they are key actors in the various fishing activities from catching, processing and marketing.
Madam Njie Saidy noted the challenges that they continue to grabble with in the fisheries sector which, she said, includes the conservation of fisheries stocks as it continues to decline, especially the high value demersals.
The Vice President said the over fishing is aggravated by the use of inappropriate fishing methods, poaching by
unlicensed vessels and illegal fishing in the territorial waters by unscrupulous fisheries operators.
"We should assume out port states responsibilities and leave no stone unturned to put a definitive end to this menace."
She called on the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission to strengthen the joint surveillance to protect the depleting fish stocks, particular that Gambia with capacities in surveillance. Vice President Njie Saidy said the Commission should intensify its resource mobilization activities in order to build the needed capacities in member countries as required.
The Commission, she said, should enhance their competitiveness for the optimal utilization of their fish and fish products.
"The Commission again should intensify the collaboration with member countries for the speedy accreditation of the fisheries laboratories to ensure better access to international markets," she added.
The Gambian Vice President said with the huge potential of aquaculture of fish produce worldwide she is challenging West African states to exploit the existing potentials for the development of aquaculture
Madam Njie said the present generation of fishing agreements are large, inequitable and consequently benefits little to coastal states that own these invaluable cultural resources. "We demand access agreements that contribute to the sustainable development of the sector and to the improvement of the lives of people," she said.The Vice President told delegates that the international trade in fish and fishery products should be fair and equitable and should not compromise the sustainable development of fisheries and responsible utilization of living aquatic resourceShe stressed the need to introduce changes to the legal requirements affecting fish trade in order to give sufficient information and also time to allow other states and producers affected to introduce the changes needed in their processes and procedures.
She revealed that the Gambia government has invested heavily in fish preservation and in minimizing post harvest losses through the establishment of appropriate infrastructure at the major fish landing sites throughout the country. "These contributed immensely in ensuring food security and employment opportunities for the population especially youths," said the Vice President.
Concluding, Vice President Njie Saidy said the government of the Gambia would continue to accord high priority status to fisheries and aquaculture in their development agenda due to the indisputable potentials and contribution this sector makes, in terms of promoting the health system of Gambians through good nutrition as well as contributing to poverty reduction and employment creation for the population.
He called on the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission to strengthen the joint surveillance in order to protect their depleting fish stocks.
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