By Madiba Singhateh
The Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources, and National Assembly Matters has officially announced a temporary ban on night fishing, effective from 10 July 2025 to 31 December 2025, covering a period of approximately six months.
In letters dispatched to various fishing landing sites across the country, the Ministry directed that no fishing activities should take place between the hours of 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM daily. The decision, part of broader fisheries management measures, aims to protect juvenile fish and ensure long-term sustainability of fish stocks.
“This directive is emanating from the Ministry… You are all urged to comply with this fisheries management measure and report non-compliances to the relevant authorities for remedial actions. Failure to comply with this directive will result in stiff penalties as appropriate,” the letter stated.
The news has drawn mixed reactions from the fishing community. While some see the move as necessary, others remain skeptical about enforcement.
Landing Tamba, a fisherman from Sanyang, welcomed the decision, noting that night fishing often results in the capture of juvenile fish, undermining the future of the industry. “If the ministry had not intervened, we would continue to catch small fish. Then next year, there would be no fish left. That’s what causes the scarcity,” he said.
However, Tamba raised concerns about enforcement and transparency. “It’s good to close, but who will enforce it?” he asked. “The fisheries department doesn’t empower local communities. Instead, they give authority to beach security personnel whose salaries are enough to tempt them into making deals with fishermen. They allow people to go fishing, and by the time they return, it’s night, nobody knows what happened.”
He warned that compliance may be short-lived if enforcement is weak. “People will follow the rule for a month. Then rumors will spread that some landing sites are still fishing at night, and everyone will go back to sea. That’s how it always happens.”
Tamba also criticized the unequal treatment of small-scale fishers compared to industrial trawlers. “If small-scale fishers are banned from fishing at night, then trawlers should also stop operating for at least three months to allow fish stocks to recover. Otherwise, they’ll go into pelagic reserve areas and fish there while the sea is closed to us. It’s unfair.”
During a visit to one of the coastal landing sites around 4:00–5:00 PM, only one “filaturne” boat was observed supplying fish to a local fishmeal factory, reflecting the immediate impact of the ministry’s announcement.
As the temporary closure looms, fishers and coastal communities wait to see if enforcement will match the Ministry’s strong words, and whether the measure will be enough to preserve Gambia’s fragile marine resources.
