European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA), last Wednesday trained twenty Gambian fisheries inspectors on control techniques at sea and at landing.
Organised by the Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources in collaboration with Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission.
Permanent Secretary at the ministry, Dr. Bamba Banja said the training targets to improve fisheries and aquaculture through research, creation of employment, generation of revenue and the socio-economic development of the country.
He added that the fisheries sector activities are in agreement with policy objectives, including sustainable and rational management of the fisheries resources and the increase participation of Gambians in the sector.
Dr. Banja thanked EU for the support they have been giving to the government and urged the participants to take the training seriously so that the knowledge and experience they will gain can impact on others.
Representative of the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC) Shegella Sarre said the training is part of the PESCAO program that targets the improvement of regional fisheries governance in West Africa, which is entirely funded by the European Union for a period of 4 years.
She said the project’s main objective is to strengthen capacity of member states and the permanent secretariat of the SRFC in terms of monitoring, control and surveillance.
Darrell Sexstone, program manager of the European Union Delegation said the EU is worried about the depletion of fisheries resources in the world, especially along the coasts of West Africa. He said the improved regional fisheries governance in West Africa project; PESCAO is a 15 million Euro initiative signed in 2017.
He added that the EU funded PESCAO project to actively support conservation and management of fish stocks in The Gambia, saying it remains important for Gambia government to develop competent skilled personnel in the area of monitoring, control and surveillance and to put in place the right logistical support for at sea operations.
Mr. Sexstone said it is important for the participants to take the opportunity to work towards the completion of the course for non- EU inspectors at sea and in port offered by the European Union technical support team.
