The Daily Observer (Banjul)
Amadou Jallow
7 July 2009
As discussed in our last edition, aquatic habitats are said to be those living things that grow or live in or near water.
Some of them are fundamental to local livelihoods and key components in the well being of local people, having multiple usages, including human consumption. Patterns used in aquatic resources are however influenced by the type of environment they live and its socio-economic factors such as value, rules of access, ownership and marketability. This varies from place to place. Some of the factors that determine aquatic resource use patterns include:
Aquatic resource seasonality
When assessing aquatic resources and their availability, the initial impression is that fishing activities take place throughout the year. This is however an over-simplification of quite complicated series of activities. Over the course of the year, fishing effort is focused on different water bodies using different techniques and targeting different fish species. Such issues are complex and interrelated, but can provide a useful framework to better understand resource use.
Much of the simpler, cheaper and more common household gear has limited application in the river. This means that successfully accessing riverine aquatic resources requires financial investments in gear and a certain amount of skilled labour. Households that lack the labour to use the specialized gear or the means to purchase boats and equipment are limited to resources along the edges of the rivers using smaller gear during periods of low water and assisting others during peak fishing periods. Those who can fish in the river are subject to seasonal scarcity, but are able to catch some fish throughout the year.
However, the rainy season is always anticipated to be a possible season for exceptional fish catch. This is said to be the time when majority of the fishes came near the river shores to lay their eggs. Accordingly, however, care must be taken for sustainable fishing. Of course, fish are in the river for human cunsumption, but safe guarding the young ones from being all killed is a priority for every genuine fisherman. If we are to indiscriminately catch fish (both big and small ones) there is no doubt that we are contributing negatively to our fisheries sector, which can consequently lead to hunger; hence it is said that virtually 65% of Gambian families derive their daily food from fish.
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