Gambian lawmakers have asked the country’s Minister for Fisheries and Water Resources to present details of the Senegal-Gambia fishing agreement.

The MPs request comes amid growing concerns over illegal fishing in Gambia’s waters. 

Last week, the Fisheries minister James Furmos Gomez was summoned to appear before parliament to answer questions regarding fishing activities in the country. 

Banjul south MP Touma Njai said the minister misled the National Assembly about the fishing deal between the two neighbouring countries. 

The deal was signed in 2017 – at a time the National Assembly was on recess.

Meanwhile, Musa Amul Nyass, National Assembly member for Foni Kansala said: “as matter of urgency the full report should be submitted to plenary for ratification.”

“The agreement needs to be ratified before they come into existence,”  Ya Kumba Jaiteh, Nominated Member said, adding “this has been going on for so long in the country and it should be stopped.”

Minister James Furmos Gomez said: “ this is not a new agreement. The agreement was signed during the First and Second Republic, nonetheless we can contact the Ministry of Justice to find out the details.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba