28
Oct09-March10
5 of personnel trained in resources
management 50 participants in
bycatch survey Postponed to Year
2
Changes in Program Activities
Sardinella activities postponed until next year due to the need to concentrate more fully on sole and oyster fisheries.
Priorities for Next Reporting Period
None
2.6 Export and Trade Promotion Background
Fish export competitiveness
There are a number of issues that broadly fall under a heading of fish export competitiveness in The Gambia and that transcend all of the export fisheries including sole, shrimp, and a few
others. One of these issues, which has been raised by the industrial fish processors, is the concern over the current pricing of shrimp on the world market—an issue that cannot be controlled
locally. Since the price of fish commodities is determined on the world market, the only factor that can be locally controlled is the cost of capture, processing and marketing of these export
products. That said, the high price of electricity—the highest cost factor in fish processing for maintaining freezing facilities, etc.—makes this difficult. Processers have been asking for
reduced electricity rates to make them more internationally competitive. Electricity prices have recently been reduced and this has helped considerable. For more information on trade and
exports see the section above: Coordinate with West Africa Trade Hub on exploring new markets for sole, shrimp or other possible export products
Report Period Accomplishments
In this first year of the Project, a thorough assessment of the issues described above was to be conducted to document in more detail the relative costs in The Gambia vis-a-vis other exporters
in the region. The goal was to prepare a policy brief that can clearly document the issues and provide a number of policy alternatives for consideration. The report on competitiveness issues
will be initiated in the next reporting period. The report on electricity prices has been canceled for this year as electricity prices were reduced during this reporting period so no longer viewed
as a priority for review. Other competitiveness issues are being captured in the sole and shrimp value chain studies.
29
Outputs
Expected Year 1 Outputs Actual To Date
Report on competitiveness issues for fish export processers in The Gambia
Canceled as electricity prices were reduced during this reporting period so no
longer viewed as a priority for review
Key Results
No. Indicator
Target Actual
Oct09-March10
10 of reports documenting transboundary issues
1 canceled
Changes in Program Activities
Canceled as electricity prices were reduced during this reporting period so no longer viewed as a priority for review.
2.7 Biodiversity Conservation Background
