By Mariama Jallow
The incidental capture of non-target species such as juvenile fish, dolphins, marine turtles and seabirds called bycatch, has been identified as one of the biggest challenges affecting fisheries management.
This lamentation was made at a two-day training programme for Board National Observers, aimed at equipping observers group on board fishing vessels with a view to minimise accidental catch of seabirds and turtles.
Held at the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA) Conference Hall in Kanifing, from Monday 27-28 January, it’s also meant to develop the capacity of fisheries observers in order to equip them with the skills and knowledge so that they can handle bycatch issues.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources, Mr. Omar S.M. Gibba, underscored the significance of the training. He maintained that the observer group plays a significant role in the Ministry of Fisheries.
“You are the people that go to the sea. You are our eyes and ears, and that all our objective judgements depend on the information and data that you made available to us.
“Therefore, make no mistake because you are very important partner in this system,” DPS Gibba encouraged them. He emphasized also that without the observers, they can’t come with the right policies and regulation to protect the fisheries and marine resources.
The Assistant Director of Fisheries, under the purview of Ministry of Fisheries, Mr. Momodou Sidibeh, explained, “If you look at these species, their reproductive rate is very slow. So, it involves and requires management in order to sustainably and rationally continue exploring and benefiting our fisheries resources.”
The MAVA Bycatch Project, he stated, is very important, and that “the government through the Department of Fisheries is aware of the importance of bycatch, hence it’s in the legislation.
“However, we’re working towards reviewing the legislation that will give prominence to bycatch issues. In fact, it’s interesting to see some registered lancing vessels that are registered to catch fish, for instance, but most of the landing becomes shrimps,” he cited as an example.
The Fisheries Director further told his audience that, the management of bycatch is very complex as it involves lots of scientific activities- one of which is true capacity building.
Sidibeh informed: “Our mission is to train you so that when you are in the vessels, you can know how to handle cases of bycatch.
“You are the eyes and police of government at sea, thus your mission is to make sure that these resources are exploited in a right manner that will benefit the present generation and the next generation to come.”
Mr. Ahmed Diame, Project Manager of Birdlife International, said bycatch of seabirds and sea turtles in West African industrial fisheries is an initiative funded by MAVA Foundation and implemented by Birdlife International.
{BirdLife International is a global partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats, and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources.}
According to the Project Manager, the national observer training is one of the key areas of the project’s focus.
“The training is part of series of training that was held in Senegal, Guinea, among other countries.
“Therefore, we will give you the skills that will enable you to start working at the sea and such kind of training will continue nationally,” said Diame. He reinforced the position that Seabirds and sea turtles birds bycatch are the biggest challenges fisheries sectors are facing today.
However, he was quick to add that the problem in West African is lack of data. He revealed that is why they aren’t aware lot of things happening at the sea; and he pointed out that without data, they would not know what is happening and the management aspect would be difficult.
