By Man Ndegene Secka
Today
December 14, 2010
The Gambia's minister for Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, Hon. Lamin Kaba Bajo has urged local and regional stakeholders to spare no effort in order to consolidate their achievements and strengthen sub-regional cooperation for the sustainable management, conservation and utilization of the fisheries and coastal marine resources.
Mr. Bajo made this call on Monday at the opening of the 17th ordinary session of the coordinating committee of the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC), held at the Laico Atlantic Hotel in Banjul.
According to him, the fisheries sector plays a vital role in the respective governments' efforts to reduce poverty, hunger and malnutrition as well as promote the socio-economic development of SRFC countries. He said the fact is manifested in the high priority accorded to the sector by the governments and heads of state. He added that the sector offers numerous opportunities for cooperation and continues to play a unifying role and further cementing the bonds of friendship and brotherhood that so happily exists between the member states of the sub-regional fisheries commission.
Hon. Kaba Bajo then reaffirmed that the fisheries sector will continue to occupy centre stage in The Gambia government's development agenda due to the indisputable contribution the sector makes in promoting the health of Gambians through good nutrition as well as addressing poverty and employment in the population.
According to him, the achievements registered by the Sub-regional Fisheries Commission offer abundant testimony to their commitment and strong desire to create a strong and dynamic organization to serve the collective interests of its members. He said it also serves a viable organ for sub-regional integration which he noted, is the only way forward to achieve success in conserving and preserving our precious fisheries resources for now and posterity.
"As coastal states, we are fully aware of the strong challenges to be faced in the struggle to ensure that these precious fisheries resources of the sub-region are well conserved and protected.
Single states may reform their fisheries policies and governance, yet remain vulnerable to the activities of their neighbors. Efforts will be needed to ensure regional collaboration, potentially through the regional economic commission (RECs) and regional fisheries bodies (RFBs) and other regional bodies to address the needs of shared, straddling and highly migratory stocks and high seas fish resources," he said.
Speaking further, Hon. Bajo noted that a major concern of The Gambia government in the fisheries sector is the conservation of its fisheries stocks. "Recent statistics indicate that the fish stocks continue to decline, particularly the high value demersal species. This is largely due to over-fishing, poaching by unlicensed vessels and illegal fishing (IUU Fishing) aggravated by the use of appropriate fishing methods culminating in the extermination of juvenile fish" Bajo pointed out.
With regards to illegal unreported and unregulated fishing, Bajo said the (IUU) member states of the SRFC recognized its effect on its fish stocks and the marine ecosystem. This he noted was why in October 2003 the ministers of fisheries of the SRFC signed a declaration on IUU fishing in Nouakchott, Mauritania. He however added that there is need to have a regional approach to fight against IUU fishing.
"In the past, the Surveillance Operations Coordinating Unit created by the SRFC and based in Banjul conducted numerous joint aerial and sea surveillance operations in the territorial waters of member states which greatly contributed to the reduction of illegal fishing. The resources needed to protect our precious fish resources are enormous and involve the introduction and application of legal instruments and the putting in place of up-to-date mechanisms of monitoring, control and surveillance from the land, air and sea" he added.
According to him, the sub-regional organization has long recognized the value of strategic planning suggesting why since 2002, the SRFC has implemented its Strategic Action Plan 2002-2010, inspired by the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, as well as a regional support programme for the promotion of responsible fisheries and protection and preservation of the marine environment. He said the SRFC member states have also been involved in the implementation of a strategy for marine protected areas (MPA) and a sub-regional action plan for the conservation and management of rays and sharks.
"Also our numerous specific projects have permitted considerable improvements of sub-regional collaboration in the field of fisheries research. In this regard, the SRFC must continue to ensure coordination of international assistance in the fisheries sector by acting as a focal point for multilateral and bilateral development partners," he concluded.
Also speaking at the forum, Mr. Amadou Saine, permanent secretary, Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters suggested that the participation of the members showed their commitment to their common organization which is the Sub Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC). He said the hosting of these sessions in The Gambia was approved by executive directives and approval from President Yahya Jammeh. He spoke of the readiness of the leadership of the country to complement the work of the commission towards the development of the fisheries sectors of the SRFC which according to him gives credence to the importance attached to the sessions by the government.
Mr. Saine further noted that this is not the first time The Gambia is hosting sessions of the SRFC. "Our performance during our last tenure should reassure you that we do everything to ensure that the agenda before us for this organization will be implemented to the full and will invite all those partners and members to come on board to make sure that we have what we want from our organization" he said.
For his part, the outgoing chairperson of the Sub Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC), Madam Marie Edelmia Carvalho pointed out that the organizations of the commission work tirelessly so as to enable them control and monitor adequately their activities, regarding organizational development policy, documentations on their role and the staff management and the financial documentation of the commission that was adopted by the conference in February 2009.
According to her, the commission, as part of its operation, has decided to work as a team, to recruit best talents to face its challenges. She said it is also remarkable that the commission have to monitor the behaviour of its partners, its structure and its governance based on transparency and responsibility principles.
"This represents the starting of a restoration process, a process that was based on the commitment of the commission and the conference of ministers and the coordinating committee and major partners" she remarked.
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