Download Title: Impact of climate change on the Population of SPF resources

Title: Impact of climate change on the Population of SPF resources of the Gambia
Abstract:
The artisanal fisheries sub-sector plays a very important role in providing the vital animal
protein supplement to the Gambian populace. Also it acts as a major source of raw fish material
for the fish processing establishments in the country. D espite their relative low commercial value,
the small pelagic fish resources dominate the total annual catches of the capture fisheries. The
marine and coastal fisheries provide the bulk of fish production. Decrease in both fish
production and distribution in these areas as a result of various climate change scenarios and
fishing pressure will severely impact the wellbeing of the population of (SPF).
The impacts of climate change could result in increased salinization in the estuarine zones
which leads to the desiccation of mangroves and other wetland ecosystems that are important
critical breeding and nursery habitats for commercially important fish species. it also leads
intrusion of salt water into the freshwater habitats (The River Gambia) which might deleteriously
affect the freshwater fish species.
At present, the assessment of small pelagic resources are made at sub-regional level through the FAO
Working Group on the assessment of the small pelagic fish of Northwest Africa. This excellent
cooperation between scientists of the sub-region is the first stage for a concerted management of these
resources. Management measures are however adopted at the national level and one country’s
measures do not always correspond to management schemes applied in the neighboring countries.