The fish industry - Light at the end of the tunnel

In The Gambia, the activities of fish retailers are limited by a number of factors, including unavailability of sophisticated storage facilities.

This leaves them at the mercy of another group of people - those who deal in ice blocks. Reports from the Brikama fish centre reveal that an imminent shortage of this popular commodity has set up an air of anxiety among fishmongers in the town.

Some fish sellers who spoke to the Daily Observer put the blame on the high cost of ice blocks during the course of the Holy Month of Ramadan, which they said is seriously hampering their businesses. This, they went on, was costing them a lot in terms of overhead expenditures. “The rain is also another contributing factor to the looming threat,” said one of them, revealing that it has resulted in the escalation of the suffering they presently encounter in their businesses. Accordingly, a large quantity of fish finds its way into the dustbins as leftovers.

Omar Darboe, the head of the fish retailers, told the Daily Observer that the high cost of ice block in town serves as a discouraging factor, rendering them reluctant to bring the amount of fish they normally have. Out of apparent frustration, Sarata Camara, a woman fish retailer, argued that fish selling was in fact not a woman’s work.

It can be recalled that there have been repeated calls, of recent, for the business people to reduce the prices of their commodities, especially during the month of Ramadan, a call that seems to have fallen on deaf ears. The latest person to have made this call was the Gambian leader himself, President Yahya Jammeh, who, just a couple of weeks ago, renewed his call for Gambians to desist from illegally increasing the prices of their goods.

But this is by no means the only way the leadership of this country has been dealing with problems of this nature. With an agreement between the governments of The Gambia and Japan, there is light at the end of the tunnel for the fishmongers of The Gambia.

Japanese-Gambian tie
In August 2005, The government of The Gambia requested for aid from The Government of Japan for the construction of a fish market in Brikama. The Japanese government later approved the request, bringing close to possibility the realization of the dream of facilitating easy access to fish within Brikama and its outskirts. It is also hoped that this project will cut down on losses previously encountered by fish retailers, which was mainly the result of inadequacy of storage facilities. Furthermore, the project also aims at making fish easily available and affordable to the wider Gambian population, whose principle source of protein has largely been fish.

Mr Ousman Mass Jobe, a senior fisheries officer at the Department of Fisheries, told the Daily Observer that the new fish market will immensely reduce the impact of post-harvest losses with the provision of “ice and chill room for storage”. He said that this will make it possible for Gambians to sell fresh and good-quality fish in a more hygienic environment; ensuring stable supply and reduce variations in the prices of fish and fisheries products in the distribution process.

According to Mr Jobe, Brikama was selected for the project because of its ideal location, connecting the coastal fishing areas to the inland. This project occupies an area of 3,381m2 and it is estimated to cost about $5.0 million and will be, in the words of Mr Jobe, “well equipped, with correct facilities, including a fish-retailing hall with some office spaces”. The project will also have a fish and ice-handling yard, a possible solution to the problem the fish retailers face with acquiring ice block to keep their fish fresh.

In case of electricity outages, the fisheries department official assured the Daily Observer of the provision of an emergency generator, to ensure continuity of power supply. He said that there would also be a water treatment and supply system, public toilets, provision for security - with a security guards’ room - a cleaning staff booth, garbage deports, and a host of other vital facilities. According to him, what he described as the soft components of the project would incorporate assistance for the establishment of an administration and a management.
     
Organization and capacity building for fresh fish retailers
With a view to sustaining this project, there are plans to ensure a greater enhancement of the operations, and this the authorities intend to do by ensuring that the beneficiaries are equipped with the relevant maintenance skills in the relevant areas, like in the area of refrigeration.

Accordingly, an announcement for tender has already been done in Japan, for the construction of the fish market. The tender period, according to Mr Jobe, will last for only forty-five days, after which the tenders would be opened, by November 7th 2008.

Approval has already been granted by the Department of Physical Planning and Housing, and, of course, canteen owners and vendors at the proposed site in Brikama have already being re-located, with demolition of the remaining structures at the site to be completed by 20th September, 2008. Mr. Jobe added that the construction work proper is expected to commence by January 2009, and is expected to be completed by December, the same year. He said that the direct beneficiaries of this project would be fresh fish retailers, who are operating at different locations in Brikama market, disclosing further that they would be provided with 140 stalls with sinks for washing, cutting and sales of their fish.

Please email your comments or any information regarding fish to observerfisheries@yahoo.com or call or send text to 7786848.