Gambia National Assembly MPA Oversight: Critical Report on Failures

• A Gambian National Assembly committee report from September 2026 warns that weak enforcement, inadequate funding, and institutional conflicts are undermining the country's coastal and marine protected areas.
• Eight of sixteen designated protected areas lack approved management plans, and existing plans suffer from insufficient resources and manpower.
• The report identifies policy incoherence among government ministries and the absence of a national land-use policy as contributing to encroachment into protected areas.
• Official claims of 9.25% marine conservation towards SDG 14.5 are questioned due to a lack of scientific data and a transparent methodology.
• The Biodiversity Trust Fund is largely underutilised, and only four of sixteen protected sites generate revenue, highlighting significant financial and oversight deficiencies.

The absence of a standardized national framework for measuring and reporting progress towards the SDG 14.5 target makes it difficult to verify reported conservation achievements, monitor ecological changes over time, and ensure that national reporting aligns with international sustainability standards.

The Gambian National Assembly's Select Committee on Environment, Sustainable Development and NGO Affairs has issued a critical warning regarding the state of the nation's coastal and marine protected areas. A report, titled "Performance Audit of the Management of Coastal and Marine Protected Areas" and dated September 2026, details how a combination of weak enforcement, insufficient funding, institutional conflicts, and illegal activities are severely undermining the effective management of these vital ecosystems.

The committee's findings reveal that a significant portion of these designated areas lack fundamental operational frameworks. Specifically, eight out of the sixteen identified coastal and marine protected areas in the country do not possess approved management plans. Even where plans exist, their implementation is hampered by a severe lack of both financial resources and adequate manpower, contributing to the overall ineffectiveness of **Gambia National Assembly MPA oversight**.

The report highlights ongoing threats to these protected environments, including persistent illegal fishing, pollution, poaching, and the destruction of mangrove forests. These destructive practices, coupled with inadequate community engagement and the prevailing **Gambia weak enforcement protected areas**, are directly contributing to widespread environmental degradation across the Gambian coastline.

A core issue identified by the committee is a pervasive **Gambia environmental policy incoherence** among key government ministries. The report points to conflicting mandates between the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the Ministry of Lands, Regional Government & Religious Affairs, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security. This lack of alignment is exacerbated by the absence of a comprehensive national land-use policy, which has directly led to encroachment into protected zones, citing examples such as the development of fuel stations and dry port infrastructure within these sensitive areas.

The institutional framework designed for managing coastal and marine protected areas is described as fragmented and severely under-resourced. The committee noted a critical absence of a standardized monitoring framework, which makes it exceedingly difficult to accurately measure conservation progress. Furthermore, the department responsible for these protected areas lacks a functional monitoring and evaluation system, hindering effective management and accountability.

Capacity issues extend to the personnel on the ground. Park rangers, who are crucial for enforcement, often lack basic operational resources, including uniforms and protective equipment. Concerns were also raised regarding the professional qualifications of some rangers and a significant shortage of qualified personnel in protected areas management. Budget allocations, according to the report, are disproportionately directed towards recurrent expenditures, rather than essential field equipment and operational support, further contributing to **Gambia marine protected areas illegal fishing** and other destructive activities.

The committee also raised significant concerns about the financing of conservation activities and the broader oversight of financial resources. While a Biodiversity Trust Fund exists, it remains largely underutilised, indicating a missed opportunity for sustainable funding. The report found that only four of the sixteen protected sites generate revenue through gate fees, and there is limited engagement with private-sector partners to bolster financial support for conservation efforts. Furthermore, the committee expressed accountability concerns regarding the management and use of donor funds allocated for these critical environmental initiatives.

A particular point of contention in the **Gambia coastal management report** is the country's reported progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 14.5, which aims to conserve at least 10% of coastal and marine areas. Official records claim a 9.25% conservation achievement for marine areas. However, the committee found this figure to be unsupported by sufficient scientific data or a transparent methodology. The absence of a standardized national framework for measuring and reporting progress towards the SDG 14.5 target makes it difficult to verify reported conservation achievements, monitor ecological changes over time, and ensure that national reporting aligns with international sustainability standards, thereby impacting **Gambia SDG 14.5 compliance**.

The findings of the National Assembly committee underscore a critical juncture for environmental governance in The Gambia. The confluence of weak enforcement, policy incoherence, and severe under-resourcing not only jeopardizes the ecological integrity of the nation's coastal and marine ecosystems but also casts doubt on its ability to meet international commitments. The ongoing degradation from illegal activities, coupled with systemic institutional and financial weaknesses, threatens biodiversity, undermines community livelihoods dependent on these resources, and diminishes the long-term sustainability of the country's natural capital.

Effective **Gambia National Assembly MPA oversight** is paramount to reversing these trends. Without robust management plans, adequate funding, and a coherent policy framework, the nation risks irreversible damage to its marine environment. The committee's report serves as a stark reminder that addressing these multifaceted challenges requires urgent, coordinated action to safeguard these vital natural assets for future generations and to ensure genuine progress towards global sustainability targets.

Lawyers should advise clients operating in Gambian coastal and marine sectors to review environmental compliance and assess potential liabilities, given the identified weak enforcement and policy incoherence in protected areas. This report signals potential for future regulatory reforms or increased scrutiny, impacting project development and operational risks.

Source: Original reporting via National Assembly committee report.