By Hatab Nyang / Louise Jobe
Night fishing activities have stopped across Gambian waters to help rejuvenate the country’s fish stock following the temporary ban on night fishing, fisheries stakeholders say.
In a press release, the Ministry of Fisheries says it has temporarily banned night fishing from Thursday 11 July to Saturday, 30 November 2024.
This medium visited Gunjur beach on Wednesday, 17 July to confirm the ban.
Baboucarr Senghore, the head of the Fisheries Department in Gunjur beach, confirmed that fishing boats in Gunjur have stopped all fishing activities at night.
However, he said fishing boats are allowed to fish during the early morning hours of 06:00 am and return in the afternoon or evening. Welcoming the move, he said: “This is extremely necessary because it will allow the rejuvenation of the country’s fish stock, and will allow fish to breed in tranquility.”
Mr. Senghore said that the ban is accompanied with strong penalties for anyone found wanting during this period, noting that among such measures include seizing and selling all catches from anyone caught breaching the ban, which will be used to renovate the fisheries building at the beach.
Lamin Jammeh, a member of the Gunjur beach committee, also confirmed the observance of the ban as fishing boats now go to sea in the morning and return in the afternoon or evening. He said the ban on night fishing gives fish enough time to recuperate and breed.
Haddy Bah, a fishmonger at Gunjur beach, said the ban on night fishing has affected their businesses because they are not selling the quantity of fish they used to sell at the market nowadays. She added that the low quantity of fish is making the cost of fish high. She said whenever the ban on night fishing takes effect in the country, many Senegalese fishing boats head home until the ban is lifted in November, because these Senegalese fishing boats can only fish at night.
