In The Gambia, activities of fish retailers are limited by certain factors including the availability of sophisticated storage facilities.

This has been leading to serious set-backs on the fisheries sector. It also used to encourage post-harvest fisheries even though there are still some storage facilities in some fishing centers like Tanji and Gunjur. However, these were not enough to accomodate the number of fish catch, thus leading to good number of fish catches ending in the dustbins. Fish can be easily destroyed, especially when it spends much time in the boat. It can also be easily distroyed under hot temperatures. The coming of the Brikama fish market will seek to address such problems with the availability of a cold and chill room where fish can be kept for days without being destroyed.

The construction of the Brikama fish market was a grant from the Japanese government and is expected to be completed by November of this year. Not only will the project provide storage facilities and generate income, but will also meaningfully contribute in the employment 0f the country’s young people, thereby reducing the rate of illegal migration and the subsequent loss of lives in the ocean.

During a two-day sanitation management and environment issues training for fish retailers and operators, who will be operating at the market after its completion, which was held at the Gambia College, director of fisheries, Nfamara Dampha said the training programme is part of the soft component of the project. He also said that Brikama was chosen for the project because it is a focal point for Western Region and the Gambia as a whole.

The fish market project coordinator,  Ousman Mass Jobe  also observed that the purpose of the training was to strenghten and build the capacity of the fish retailers in preparation of their operation at the market. The completion of the project will further improve the rate of Gambians consuming fresh and healthy fish food even though the Gambian fishes are recommended as free from any fish parthogen (Fish desease) contermination.