By Amoro Kebbeh
The Chairman of Brikama Fishmongers’ Association, Mr. Foday Manjang has blamed the escalation of fish prices on a domination of the fishing industry by non-Gambians fishing in our territorial waters.
The head of Brikama market fisherfolk made his views known on Friday, 29 November, 2019 at the Brikama market, during an interview with Mansa Banko Online’s West Coast correspondent who was making journalistic enquiries about fish prices in the market.
According to him, they (foreigners) normally purchase fish at a very high cost, thus leading to the escalation of prices, especially in the urban areas.
Citing examples of high-priced species of fish, Manjang said Ladyfish {elongated, slender fish}, Barracuda {a large, predatory ray-finned fish} and Kujeli {the West African King Threadfin} are now costing D3,500 or more, per basket; while the Bonga fish stands at D800 and sometimes, it increases.
“The fisheries sector is dominated by foreigners, {and this} is causing a lot of problems on us Gambians because we’re paying the price by buying fish at high cost to resell,” Chairman Manjang opined.
Manjang said venturing into the fishing business as a Gambian is something he considers as “patriotism”. He exhorted the Gambian youngsters to venture into fishing business in order to cut down the costs of fish.
He noted that fish is normally expensive during Tobaski, Koriteh (feasts) or Magal Touba {in Senegal}, because many of the fishermen are Senegalese; and when they go to Senegal during these events, normally there is scarcity of fish in the Gambia. As this scarcity leads to the high demand of fish, it eventually results to price gouging, as adduced by Manjang.
The Fishmongers Association boss stated that almost all households in the country consume fish and fish products on a daily basis. He also pointed to series of constraints the Brikama Fish Market is facing, saying machines at the fish cold store are all out of service, thereby affecting their fish preservation.
Manjang cited transportation as another problem faced by the fishmongers. He said they find it very difficult to transport their fish to the Brikama market.
On behalf of his association, Chairman Manjang appealed to the government of President Adama Barrow, and also philanthropists to help them with vehicles that would help facilitate the easy transportation of their fish to the selling points.
On the area of hygiene, Manjang talked about the difficulties they are facing with sewage disposal, lamenting that they have been living in such a horrible condition for many years now. He, again, called on the relevant authorities to come to their aid, in order to have a proper sewage disposal system at the Brikama fish market.
Manjang also alluded to storage problems, informing Mansa Banko that, due to the poor conditions of the machines at the Brikama Fish Market, it’s difficult to preserve fish.That they normally buy ice blocks to preserve their fish.
In the Association Chair’s estimation, currently, the Brikama Fish Market holds about two hundred and sixty-seven fishmongers. Justifying his position that “fish trade is a lucrative business”, Manjang said he has four wives, and on daily basis, he spends a lot {of money} on family needs- thanks to his fish business.
He used this medium to encourage other Gambians, especially the young ones, to venture into the fisheries sector- be it small or large-scale business.
Manjang also wants Gambians, particularly the youth folk, to take up business as a career, so as to provide Gambians with some of their daily needs.
Mansa Banko Online will contact the Department of Fisheries to provide the statistics of the fishing sector.
Equally, the Brikama Area Council (BAC) will be contacted for available information on the current situation of the Brikama market.
