Dr Babagana Ahmadu, representative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in The Gambia, has disclosed that the partnership between the government of The Gambia and FAO has been strengthened within the recent past.

"Judging by the commitment and competency of The Gambia Government towards development", the FAO boss said, "there is no doubt that this partnership will continue to bear more fruits." Dr Ahmadu was speaking yesterday, at the Tanji Community Fishing Centre, while presiding over the handing over of safety-at-sea training materials and equipment to the management of the Tanji Fishing Centre.

The donated materials, which were being received from the FAO's Gambia office, included a life jacket, a fire extinguisher and a sea map chart, and they were said to have come courtesy of the FAO West Africa Sub-Regional Safety at Sea Project (WASRSSP). This is part of WASRSSP's extensive global project for safety at sea for small-scale fisheries in developing countries.

The long-term development objective of the project is to improve the livelihoods of coastal populations, especially small-scale fishing communities. Dr Ahmadu added that the donation of the equipment is geared towards reducing the number of sea accidents and their effects through the creation of awareness on safety at sea issues, as well as the enhancement of both national and regional capabilities for the implementation of existing sea problems. He then urged the beneficiaries to utilise the donated equipment for their rightful purposes in order to reduce the rate of accidents at sea.

Amadou Saine, deputy permanent secretary, Department of State for Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, said safety of fishermen at sea is among government's top priorities. He observed that enhancing the capacity of fishermen on their safety while at sea will create room for reduction of sea accidents. In this respect, he thanked FAO on behalf of The Gambia Government for the donation, promising that the materials will be adequately utilised.

For his part, Lieutenant Commander Sillah Kujabie of The Gambia Navy, who represented the National Safety at Sea Coordinating Committee (NASSCC) also expounded on the need to enhance the capacity of fishermen on safety-at-sea, describing the gesture of the FAO as a paramount move towards reducing accidents at sea. He noted that records have indicated that fishing is the world's most lucrative sectors, but he was quick to add that the sector however remains the most dangerous venture.

Kujabie then called on the beneficiary community to make good use of the materials, urging them to endeavour to extend the safety-at-sea techniques to other fishing communities after training. Director of Fisheries, Nfamara Dampha, recalled that The Gambia has been taking part in the West Africa Sub-Regional Safety at Sea programmes, and that since then it has registered significant drop in sea accidents. He used the opportunity to call on fishing folks to adequately use the safety-at-sea measures which, he said, does not only include the use of life jackets. The Gambia, he concluded, is on course in terms of reduction of sea accidents with the attachment of security personnel at every fishing centre.