The Department of State for Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly matters over the weekend, held a two day training on accounting procedures on the use of the financial manual for fishing centre managements, at Tanji Community Fishing Centre in Kombo South.  

The training was aimed at enhancing the capacity of the participants on financial management and keeping of good and up-to-date records  of their financial expenditures. During the training, participants were exposed to the different ways of keeping financial records as well as enhancing their capacity on the rules of the financial manual. In his statement, Lamin Sanneh, the governor of Western Region, described the Fisheries Department as an important sector that contributes towards achieving food self-sufficiency for the country.

The training, he went on, is very vital, hence, it aimed at enhancing the capacity of fishing centre managers on how to manage funds. He urged participants to avoid misusing finances. He also reminded them of the importance of the young people of the country venturing into the fisheries sector and not to leave every thing with the foreigners. He promised that any resolution agreed upon at the end of the training would be highly considered.

Babucarr Sarr, manager of Tanji Community Fishing Centre, expressed overwhelming gratitude for hosting the training. He reiterated that the training would better equip participants in managing finance for sustainability. He also observed fish catches are now drastically dropping down due to the high exploitation of the fish resources and urged all and sundry to take action.

Ousman Mass Jobe, senior fisheries officer at the Fisheries Department, underscored numerous importance attached to the training including the adequate management of the fisheries resources. Lamin Nyabally, permanent secretary, Department of State for Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters said, the Financial Manual training is indeed an important part for the sustainability of the project. He said that the fisheries sector plays a considerable function, thus, contributing to the country's gross domestic product (GDP).

He then urged the participants to adequately managed the necessary resources available, noting the fact that if they want to register successes at their various fishing centres, there must be robust financial discipline. He then called on Gambians to take possession of their territorial waters. The Gambia, he observed, is now losing its previous high value of fish stock due to many contributing factors such as illegal fishing and bad fishing equipment as well as the depletion of the water.