The fisheries sector of any given country has huge potential for promoting sustainable livelihoods of the people.

It enhances the social structure of families by providing them with employment opportunities. Livelihoods are diversified and adapted to seasonal and environmental changes. Enhancing such diversity will minimize risks, reduce vulnerability and reduce dependence on non-cultured resources. It is important to promote livelihood strategies that include elements of accessibility, diversity and stability, rather than emphasizing rice production potential alone. People's participation in the promotion of their own livelihoods from their territorial water resources is key for sustainable management of aquatic resources in development.

Because livelihoods in Africa are so closely linked to natural resources, local people are the most logical entry point into sustainable management. Because of their daily interaction with these resources, the local people tend to know more about their status better than most outsiders and they can provide a valuable mechanism for long-term management. This level of participation is only possible when local people have an active role in managing the fisheries setor themselves.

In The Gambia, however, such priorities have been an ongoing process, where fishing centres are handed to the local people themselves to manage. People will only be able to consider the long-term perspective required for sustainable management of the fisheries sector when their immediate needs for health and well-being are met.The Gambian fishing centres have been undergoing regorous developments. This can even be seen in the recent inauguration of a  newly constructed  ice plant in Brufut community fishing centre.

The lack of food security is one of the major constraints to enhancing people's livelihoods. People who have poor diets typically suffer from ill health and are unable to contribute to local development. Many people settling around the coastal areas used to derive most of their living from the sea. Even when they do not have enough money to last throughout the year, the sector can help them constantly cope with those shortages.

These households are often highly dependent upon natural resources to overcome their fending deficits. Any improvements in the health and nutrition status of rural people will have wide reaching impacts and make a significant contribution to poverty alleviation. Cross-sectoral interventions to address the interconnected issues of health and nutrition should emphasize nutritional quality and behaviour aspects of food security.

Health interventions, including awareness creation that will cover nutritional issues on fish and fisheries products for women and children will also have great impact.