Why is commercial fishing limited in The Gambia?

Commercial fishing in The Gambia is primarily limited by the country's small ocean coastline, which restricts the scope for marine fishing. Additionally, local fishermen are often hindered by a lack of adequate equipment.1

While there is potential for commercial fishing both offshore and within the Gambia River, the government has sought to support the industry by providing small loans to help purchase motorized boats and construct facilities for processing bonga (shad) for export.1