News and Events

DEPT. FISHERIES SET TO COMBAT IUU FISHING AS IT INAUGURATES THE FISHERIES MONITORING CENTER (FMC)

• May 27th, 2021
• Fatou B. Cham, Information Officer, Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters

The Department of Fisheries through the Ministry of Fisheries Water Resources and National Assembly Matters (MoFWR-Nams) on its strike to combat Illegal Unreported and Unregulated fishing in the Gambia recently launched the Fisheries Monitoring Centre (FMC) held at the Department of Fisheries in Banjul.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, James F.P Gomez, Minister of MoFWR-Nams elaborated on the signing of the sustainable fisheries partnership agreement with EU, stating that it was a prerequisite that The Gambia must have a functional FMC.
In that regard, Hon. Gomez narrated that the government of the Gambia in February 2019 started a procurement arrangement with a French company called Collecte Localisation Satellite (CLS) for the purchase of Themis VMS software in establishing a monitoring center.
“CLS as a service provider is the lead company in providing vessel monitoring system (VMS) for all sub-regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC) member states,” he added.
In the sale arrangement, The Minister explained that a package was reached for the purchase from CLS a Themis web VMS with a built-in Automatic Identification System (AIS) and satellite, five desktop computers, thirty transponders, five days training for MCS and Navy staff and for the activation of transponders. 
According to him however due to Covid-19 pandemic all the arrangement was halted because of the lockdown in France CLS office was temporarily closed. This situation impacted on the progress of the center but with determination the center has been inaugurated.

Also speaking at the event, Anna Mbenga Cham, acting director of the Department of Fisheries, informed the gathering that the FMC is equipped with THEMIS web Vessel monitoring system and desktop computers. 
“THEMIS Cloud has a comprehensive data integration service and a crucial tool for maintaining 24-hour maritime surveillance via a secure, web-based interface. The vessels’ activities can be monitored in real time, with geographical features of interest, such as EEZ or territorial boundaries, closed areas, prohibited zone and port),” she explained.
Mrs. Cham further narrated that an alert can also be sent to an email address or cellular phone, adding that the information can also be stored for historical analyses. 
“The fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a global problem beyond the resources of one nation. The fight required concerted effort by all nations. The Gambia is no exemption to resource depletion thereby vessels infringed into prohibited zones and using wrong mesh sizes in contravention of the law,” she added.
According to her, VMS will play a very pivotal role in monitoring of the activities of fishing vessels in our waters. The beauty about it is that the system can detect any vessel either via the VMS beacon (Argos or Inmarsat type), AIS and through Satellite. 
“It will also help in planning of maritime surveillance operations, conduct risk assessment targeting infringing vessels thereby reducing resource waste,” she concluded.