Women fish vendors at Tanji Riverside have appealed to the government to address rising costs, limited workspace and persistent theft they say are threatening their livelihoods.
Speaking to The Point at their selling site, the vendors said despite working long hours to support their families, they make little or no profit due to high fish prices, expensive firewood and middlemen inflating costs.
Anzel Ndey Jatta, a fish vendor, said women lack equipment and capital to work effectively. She said a pan of bonger fish sells for between D3,500 and D4,000, while catfish sells for between D12,000 and D15,000 — prices that leave vendors with no margin.
"This is our business, but when we buy fish at these prices, we make no profit. The high cost leaves us with little or nothing because it passes through too many hands before reaching us. We do not buy directly from the fishing boats," Jatta said.
She explained that fishermen sell to intermediaries who resell before the fish reaches vendors, driving up prices and causing losses.
The vendors also cited inadequate infrastructure. Fatima Bojang said the designated area for smoking and drying fish is too small, forcing women to do both activities in the same congested space.
"When you smoke fish, you cannot dry fish in the same space. The area designated for smoking and drying fish is too small, and we need it to be expanded," Bojang said.
She said many vendors close the day with less than D200. Bojang blamed rising prices partly on retailers who go directly to fishing boats and buy up supplies, pushing the lowest price to D7,000 per batch.
"For people in our financial situation, how can we afford to pay D7,000 for fish? If you are a widow whose husband has died and left you with children to care for, where will you find D7,000?" she asked.
Bojang added that loans taken to finance fish purchases are weighing vendors down.
Another vendor, Adama Jallow, highlighted insecurity as a major concern.
"We are living in peace here, and we are appealing to the government to help us maintain the place where we sell our fish. People frequently steal our belongings. If the government could help provide security and ensure that our selling areas are monitored, it would be a great relief," Jallow said.
Jallow also appealed for a reduction in tax on fish, arguing high purchase prices force vendors to sell at high prices, prompting customer complaints and low sales.
Fatoumatta Jah echoed similar concerns, citing price disparities and lack of storage.
"We do not even have a place to store our fish. Theft is also a major problem for us. The thieves are causing us great suffering," she said.
The vendors, who say smoking and drying fish is their primary source of income, appreciated recent lighting improvements at the site but said more support is needed to expand space, provide storage, improve security and make fish more affordable.