{"id":40091939,"date":"2022-07-05T15:25:30","date_gmt":"2022-07-05T14:25:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chinadialogueocean.net\/?p=91939"},"modified":"2022-08-17T15:16:30","modified_gmt":"2022-08-17T14:16:30","slug":"seaweed-blooms-caused-by-fishmeal-plants-hurt-gambian-coastal-communities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/en\/ocean\/seaweed-blooms-caused-by-fishmeal-plants-hurt-gambian-coastal-communities\/","title":{"rendered":"Seaweed blooms caused by fishmeal plants hurt Gambian coastal communities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>On and off for almost four years now, vast quantities of dead seaweed have been washing up along beaches in The Gambia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The \u201cSmiling Coast\u201d of West Africa, as the country is affectionately known, has long been popular with tourists who enjoy its white sandy beaches and the lodges that are nestled among clumps of coconut palm. But near three fishmeal factories located in the fishing villages of Gunjur, Sanyang and Kartong, decomposing seaweed has become a menace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The stench of the brown algae can be unbearable for nearby businesses and residents. Tourism has suffered, with swimmers unable to get into the water, and visitors avoiding the beaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cd-article-image alignleft block--article-image block--article-image--article\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><div class=\"block--article-image__column\"><div class=\"block--article-image__image\"><img class=\"lazy\" data-src=\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/20200708_Gambia_sea_shepherdEN-01-01.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/20200708_Gambia_sea_shepherdEN-01-01-768x866.png 768w, https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/20200708_Gambia_sea_shepherdEN-01-01-909x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/20200708_Gambia_sea_shepherdEN-01-01.png 1102w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 768px, (max-width: 1024px) 1024px, 1102px\" alt=\"\"\/><\/div><div class=\"block--article-image__content\"><div itemprop=\"caption\" class=\"block--article-image__caption\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><meta itemprop=\"contentUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/20200708_Gambia_sea_shepherdEN-01-01.png\"\/><meta itemprop=\"contentSize\" content=\"112 KB\"\/><meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"1242\"\/><meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"1102\"\/><meta itemprop=\"author\"\/><meta itemprop=\"representativeOfPage\" content=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Small quantities of seaweed are common in a marine ecosystem, especially after storms. But since the arrival of the fishmeal facilities, an enormous amount has been washing ashore, along with dead fish. The foreign-owned factories grind down small, open-ocean fish such as bonga and sardinella into powders and oils for aquaculture and livestock&nbsp;industries overseas. At the same time, they pump into the ocean untreated wastewater, full of phosphates that promote the growth of the algae that suffocates marine life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As well as campaigning, activists in Gunjur have collected samples of wastewater from the nearby Golden Lead fishmeal factory, and sent it to a company called Reef Analytics in Germany to be examined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Ahmed Manjang, a leading activist and microbiologist in Gunjur, the wastewater contained \u201chigh quantities of organic matter that caused eutrophication\u201d. This is the term for excessive richness of nutrients in the water, which in turn leads to excessive growth of plants that then decompose, depriving marine animals of oxygen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cd-article-image aligncenter block--article-image block--article-image--article\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><div class=\"block--article-image__column\"><div class=\"block--article-image__image\"><img class=\"lazy\" data-src=\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220704_Gambia-seaweed-blooms-bowl-of-fish_MustaphaManneh_ChinaDialogueOcean.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220704_Gambia-seaweed-blooms-bowl-of-fish_MustaphaManneh_ChinaDialogueOcean-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220704_Gambia-seaweed-blooms-bowl-of-fish_MustaphaManneh_ChinaDialogueOcean-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220704_Gambia-seaweed-blooms-bowl-of-fish_MustaphaManneh_ChinaDialogueOcean.jpg 2560w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 768px, (max-width: 1024px) 1024px, 2560px\" alt=\"hands handling fish in basket\"\/><\/div><div class=\"block--article-image__content\"><div itemprop=\"caption\" class=\"block--article-image__caption\">The three fishmeal factories that have sprung up along The Gambia\u2019s short coastline since 2015 have not only caused pollution, but also lead to overfishing, posing a threat to food security (Image: Mustapha Manneh \/ China Dialogue Ocean)<\/div><\/div><\/div><meta itemprop=\"contentUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220704_Gambia-seaweed-blooms-bowl-of-fish_MustaphaManneh_ChinaDialogueOcean.jpg\"\/><meta itemprop=\"contentSize\" content=\"1 MB\"\/><meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"1707\"\/><meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"2560\"\/><meta itemprop=\"author\"\/><meta itemprop=\"representativeOfPage\" content=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The Gambia\u2019s first fishmeal plant began operating in 2015. It caused smells that irritated tourists and, for many, signalled an economic and environmental disaster for the country. Despite this, the number of facilities nationally has since increased to three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gambian coastal waters are known for their abundant fish. But the fishmeal factories have posed a threat to food security, both through eutrophication and overfishing to supply the fishmeal factories with raw material. The factories\u2019 failure to operate in an environmentally friendly manner has provoked <a href=\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/en\/pollution\/11980-fishmeal-factories-threaten-food-security-in-the-gambia\/\">protest<\/a> from some locals, including young people, many of whom had been promised jobs and felt betrayed by the owners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-breaching-the-rules\">Breaching the rules<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Gambia\u2019s 1994 National Environmental Management Act specifies that \u201cno person shall discharge dangerous material, or substance into any water or any segment of the environment except per the regulation prescribed by the council.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But a senior member of the National Environment Agency, the government entity overseeing environmental management, who preferred to remain anonymous, said: \u201cThere is no political will from the top government officials to address this fishmeal issue. While doing our work as mandated by law, a command will come from the top government office to jeopardise the proceeding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is currently no specific fine for illegally discharging waste into the ocean. Activists say this has created room for corruption and compromise. \u201cBecause there is no specific fine for such act, the government officials involved in dealing with illegal waste dumping are compromised\u201d environmentalist Omar Saho said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2017, the Golden Lead factory paid an out-of-court settlement to the government of US$25,000 after discharging wastewater without approval from the authorities. They were also asked to pay for the testing of the already contaminated water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cd-article-image aligncenter block--article-image block--article-image--article\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><div class=\"block--article-image__column\"><div class=\"block--article-image__image\"><img class=\"lazy\" data-src=\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220704_Gambia-seaweed-blooms-fishmeal-factory_MustaphaManneh_ChinaDialogueOcean.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220704_Gambia-seaweed-blooms-fishmeal-factory_MustaphaManneh_ChinaDialogueOcean-768x477.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220704_Gambia-seaweed-blooms-fishmeal-factory_MustaphaManneh_ChinaDialogueOcean-1024x636.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220704_Gambia-seaweed-blooms-fishmeal-factory_MustaphaManneh_ChinaDialogueOcean.jpg 2560w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 768px, (max-width: 1024px) 1024px, 2560px\" alt=\"woman carrying basin near wall advertising fish meal\"\/><\/div><div class=\"block--article-image__content\"><div itemprop=\"caption\" class=\"block--article-image__caption\">Wastewater from the Golden Lead fishmeal\u00a0factory in Gunjur has caused seaweed blooms that impact marine life and local fishers (Image: Mustapha Manneh \/ China Dialogue Ocean)<\/div><\/div><\/div><meta itemprop=\"contentUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220704_Gambia-seaweed-blooms-fishmeal-factory_MustaphaManneh_ChinaDialogueOcean.jpg\"\/><meta itemprop=\"contentSize\" content=\"1 MB\"\/><meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"1590\"\/><meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"2560\"\/><meta itemprop=\"author\"\/><meta itemprop=\"representativeOfPage\" content=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The fisheries ministry is yet to conduct any scientific research on seaweed blooms, but its director, Anna Mbenga Cham, believes factory wastewater is the likely cause. \u201cI doubt if the inland sewage causes the seaweed bloom. We will monitor the seaweed situation with the fishers there,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The director also pointed to a lack of coordination among government ministries as making it more complicated to address the fishmeal problem. \u201cThis is not only the Ministry of Fisheries\u2019 responsibility,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-impact-on-the-ecology-and-tourism\">Impact on the ecology and tourism<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Experts warn that discharging untreated wastewater into the ocean can lead to mass die-offs of fish, crabs and other marine species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The biggest threat comes from the deoxygenation of water as blooms of algae decompose. Maiyai Taal Hocheimy, director of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greatinstitute.org\/\">GREAT Institute<\/a>, a Gambian marine and coastal research centre, details another threat: \u201cIf there is too much seaweed, it will cause hypoxia. There are plants in the water that need sunlight to grow, and if there is too much seaweed, they won\u2019t grow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The seaweed, a species of sargassum, is causing fishers enormous problems. \u201cIt damages our fishing nets and\u2026 affects our catches,\u201d says Abdou Jeng, a fisher from Gunjur. \u201cOur business is affected; I have never seen this amount of seaweed so frequently ashore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cd-article-image aligncenter block--article-image block--article-image--article\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><div class=\"block--article-image__column\"><div class=\"block--article-image__image\"><img class=\"lazy\" data-src=\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220704_Gambia-seaweed-blooms-fisher-mending-nets_MustaphaManneh_ChinaDialogueOcean.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220704_Gambia-seaweed-blooms-fisher-mending-nets_MustaphaManneh_ChinaDialogueOcean-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220704_Gambia-seaweed-blooms-fisher-mending-nets_MustaphaManneh_ChinaDialogueOcean-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220704_Gambia-seaweed-blooms-fisher-mending-nets_MustaphaManneh_ChinaDialogueOcean.jpg 2560w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 768px, (max-width: 1024px) 1024px, 2560px\" alt=\"man sitting on and mending fishing net\"\/><\/div><div class=\"block--article-image__content\"><div itemprop=\"caption\" class=\"block--article-image__caption\">The ocean is a vital source of protein for people in The Gambia, not just along the coast, but inland too (Image: Mustapha Manneh \/ China Dialogue Ocean)<\/div><\/div><\/div><meta itemprop=\"contentUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220704_Gambia-seaweed-blooms-fisher-mending-nets_MustaphaManneh_ChinaDialogueOcean.jpg\"\/><meta itemprop=\"contentSize\" content=\"2 MB\"\/><meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"1707\"\/><meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"2560\"\/><meta itemprop=\"author\"\/><meta itemprop=\"representativeOfPage\" content=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cd-article-image aligncenter block--article-image block--article-image--article\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><div class=\"block--article-image__column\"><div class=\"block--article-image__image\"><img class=\"lazy\" data-src=\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220704_Gambia-seaweed-blooms-net-full-of-seaweed_MustaphaManneh_ChinaDialogueOcean.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220704_Gambia-seaweed-blooms-net-full-of-seaweed_MustaphaManneh_ChinaDialogueOcean-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220704_Gambia-seaweed-blooms-net-full-of-seaweed_MustaphaManneh_ChinaDialogueOcean-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220704_Gambia-seaweed-blooms-net-full-of-seaweed_MustaphaManneh_ChinaDialogueOcean.jpg 2560w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 768px, (max-width: 1024px) 1024px, 2560px\" alt=\"hand holding tangled fishing net\"\/><\/div><div class=\"block--article-image__content\"><div itemprop=\"caption\" class=\"block--article-image__caption\">The large quantities of seaweed on Gunjur beach have damaged fishers\u2019 nets and reduced their catches (Image: Mustapha Manneh \/ China Dialogue Ocean)<\/div><\/div><\/div><meta itemprop=\"contentUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220704_Gambia-seaweed-blooms-net-full-of-seaweed_MustaphaManneh_ChinaDialogueOcean.jpg\"\/><meta itemprop=\"contentSize\" content=\"1 MB\"\/><meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"1707\"\/><meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"2560\"\/><meta itemprop=\"author\"\/><meta itemprop=\"representativeOfPage\" content=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe ocean serves as the main protein supplier for the Gambians while serving as a job opportunity for many,\u201d says Muhammed Hydara, of the NGO Gambia Environmental Alliance. \u201cWe are concerned about fishmeal wastewater discharged in the sea and demand proper management of fishmeal plants.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2019, tourism contributed <a href=\"https:\/\/knoema.com\/atlas\/Gambia\/topics\/Tourism\/Travel-and-Tourism-Total-Contribution-to-GDP\/Contribution-of-travel-and-tourism-to-GDP-percent-of-GDP#:~:text=In%202019%2C%20contribution%20of%20travel,ending%20at%2020.8%20%25%20in%202019.\">20.8%<\/a> to The Gambia\u2019s GDP. The country has been a popular destination for visitors, and its sandy beaches have attracted thousands of tourists annually. But the sector has suffered from the joint shocks of the seaweed and the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWalking on seaweed is the most uncomfortable thing guests can do. It\u2019s not safe barefoot because you can get cut\u2026 The seaweed mixed with dead fish gives an unpleasant smell,\u201d said Lamin Jawla, proprietor of the Rainbow Resort beachfront hotel and restaurant in Sanyang.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cd-article-image aligncenter block--article-image block--article-image--article\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><div class=\"block--article-image__column\"><div class=\"block--article-image__image\"><img class=\"lazy\" data-src=\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220704_Gambia-seaweed-blooms-Lamin-Jawla_MustaphaManneh_ChinaDialogueOcean.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220704_Gambia-seaweed-blooms-Lamin-Jawla_MustaphaManneh_ChinaDialogueOcean-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220704_Gambia-seaweed-blooms-Lamin-Jawla_MustaphaManneh_ChinaDialogueOcean-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220704_Gambia-seaweed-blooms-Lamin-Jawla_MustaphaManneh_ChinaDialogueOcean.jpg 2560w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 768px, (max-width: 1024px) 1024px, 2560px\" alt=\"man standing in front of outdoor seating area\"\/><\/div><div class=\"block--article-image__content\"><div itemprop=\"caption\" class=\"block--article-image__caption\">Hotel owner Lamin Jawla says the fishmeal factories and the seaweed blooms have had a big impact on beach tourism in The Gambia (Image: Mustapha Manneh \/ China Dialogue Ocean)<\/div><\/div><\/div><meta itemprop=\"contentUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220704_Gambia-seaweed-blooms-Lamin-Jawla_MustaphaManneh_ChinaDialogueOcean.jpg\"\/><meta itemprop=\"contentSize\" content=\"1 MB\"\/><meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"1707\"\/><meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"2560\"\/><meta itemprop=\"author\"\/><meta itemprop=\"representativeOfPage\" content=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSwimming was my hobby but now, I can\u2019t swim in the ocean anymore,\u201d said Karamo Touray, a resident of Gunjur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-clean-up-operations\">Clean-up operations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the absence of any official response, young people have taken on the task of regularly clearing the seaweed from the beaches along The Gambia\u2019s entire coastline. \u201cEvery year, the number of volunteers increases. In our recent clean-ups, around 200 volunteers joined,\u201d says Muhammed Nyass, the coordinator of Gambia Ocean Heroes, a learning project under the GREAT Institute that aims to reduce coastal pollution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ocean pollution from agricultural run-off, plastics or extractive industries is a large and global problem. In The Gambia, the recent rise in ocean pollution appears to be linked to one particular cause \u2013 fishmeal wastewater discharge \u2013 one that could be tackled, with the right steps.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Authorities slow to act on discharges from fishmeal factories, which trigger blooms that threaten marine life, fishing activities and tourism <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3907,"featured_media":40091955,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[50039901],"tags":[514,555,20000341],"hashtags":[],"country":[50041238],"class_list":["post-40091939","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ocean","tag-chemicals","tag-indigenous-peoples","tag-water-pollution","country-gambia"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v26.0) 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