Ahmed Manjang Attends Regional Workshop on Defending Artisanal Fishers from Industrial Overfishing
Saly, Senegal – February 6, 2025
Firebrand environmental activist Ahmed Manjang is currently attending a high-level regional workshop aimed at strengthening, aligning, and developing an advocacy strategy against the harmful effects of destructive industrial fishing on artisanal fishers. The workshop, which runs from February 5th to 8th, is taking place in the Senegalese city of Saly at Hotel Flamboyant.
The event has brought together key stakeholders from across West and Central Africa, including representatives from Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Ghana, as well as international participants from the United States and France. The diverse delegation reflects a united effort to address the growing threats posed by industrial fishing to coastal communities and marine protected areas.
Representing The Gambia, Ahmed Manjang delivered a presentation highlighting the challenges faced by Gambian artisanal fishers due to overfishing by large industrial vessels. He emphasised the urgent need for stronger policies, regional cooperation, and community-led initiatives to protect local livelihoods and marine biodiversity.
Discussions throughout the workshop are expected to focus on advocacy strategies, policy recommendations, and collaborative approaches to safeguarding the rights of artisanal fishers. Participants aim to develop a unified action plan to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing while promoting sustainable fishing practices across the region.
As the workshop progresses, key outcomes and policy recommendations will be shared with governments, civil society organisations, and international partners to push for concrete action against destructive fishing practices.
Ahmed Manjang, a well-known environmental activist dedicated to marine conservation and the protection of artisanal fishers’ rights in The Gambia and beyond, is also a social justice and rights activist. His advocacy focuses on combating industrial overfishing and promoting sustainable fisheries management, promoting environmental protection, human and civil rights.
The workshop’s outcomes will be crucial in shaping future policies to protect the livelihoods of small-scale fishers and ensure the sustainability of marine resources in West and Central Africa.
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