By Fatoumatta K Jallow & Mustapha Jallow The Ministry of Fisheries in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries is embarking on the registration of Artisanal Fishing Canoes commencing January 2015. The revelation is made at a press conference held at the Permanent Secretary’s office at the Ministry of Fisheries, on 11 December, 2014. Dr Bamba A. M. Banja, the Permanent Secretary under the Ministry of Fisheries said: “The requirement to register Fishing Vessels is not derogation from any other requirement for registration under any other law of the Gambia relating to the registration of ships.” According to the PS, the fee payable for registration as a commercial fishing canoe shall be the amount prescribed in Schedule ll of these Regulations. “A commercial fishing canoe shall not be registered in the Register of Commercial Fishing Canoes unless the Director is satisfied that the owner or the master of the canoe has not been convicted within the last five years of an offence under the Act or its regulations,” said PS Banja. He said the registration card shall be in safe custody by the master or owner to whom it is issued and shall be produced for inspection at any reasonable time when so required by an authorized officer. Where a registered master of a commercial fishing canoe or a member of his or her crew on board the registered canoe has been convicted of an offence under the act or its regulations, the director may, in case of a first offence, suspend the registration of the master and the permit of the fishing canoe for a period of not more than six months.]]>
