Co-Management Agreement for Sole Fishery between the Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters and NASCOM

Co-Management Agreement WHEREAS, the sole fishery is an important resource that employs many people in the coastal zone, produces export earnings for the country, and is primarily an artisanal fishery, WHEREAS, the Fisheries Act of 2007, Section 14 and associated regulations of 2008, provide the authority for the Minister of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters to designate special management areas for the purpose of community-based co-management in the interest of conservation, management and sustainable utilization of fisheries resources, WHEREAS, the Fisheries Act of 2007, Section 11 and associated regulations of 2008 provide the authority of The Minister of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters to allocate property rights over fisheries resources, WHEREAS, the Fisheries Act of 2007, Section 15 and associated regulations of 2008, provide the authority for the Minister of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters to establish Community Fisheries Centers (CFCs) for the purposes of community-based fisheries management (in consultation with Local Authorities, and where applicable, in accordance with the Local Government Act and any other laws of The Gambia). WHEREAS, The National Sole Fishery Co-Management Committee (NASCOM) and associated Landing sites Co-Management Committees (LACOMs) represent community based organizations and are affiliated with the CFCs in landings sites where CFCs exist, THEREFORE, I HEREBY Declare as a Special Management Area for the purposes of fisheries management, a sole fisheries zone from the Atlantic shoreline and shorelines adjacent to the estuarine areas of The Gambia River out to 9 nautical miles. Designate the NASCOM and its associated LACOMs through the Community Fisheries Center Management Committees as having exclusive use rights to the sole fishery in this area. Lola Cross-Out Lola Text Box Delegate authority for the responsible and sustained management and conservation of the sole fishery resources in this area to the NASCOM and its associated LACOMs through the CFCs in accordance with the management plan herein. Signed: Minis Fisheriés, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters Date Concur: saga Ise (Cfo 19 ————= Director, Department of Fisheries | Date —s | Hoi/1Z President. NASCOM == Date